Minocycline and cisplatin exert synergistic growth suppression on hepatocellular carcinoma by inducing S phase arrest and apoptosis

Unraveling the Role of the Wnt Pathway in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: From Molecular Mechanisms to Therapeutic Implications

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the deadliest malignant tumors in the world, and its incidence and mortality have increased year by year. HCC research has increasingly focused on understanding its pathogenesis and developing treatments.The Wnt signaling pathway, a complex and evolutionarily conserved signal transduction system, has been extensively studied in the genesis and treatment of several malignant tumors. Recent investigations suggest that the pathogenesis of HCC may be significantly influenced by dysregulated Wnt/β-catenin signaling. This article aimed to examine the pathway that controls Wnt signaling in HCC and its mechanisms. In addition, we highlighted the role of this pathway in HCC etiology and targeted treatment.

Synergistic Potential of Antibiotics with Cancer Treatments

Intratumoral microbiota, the diverse community of microorganisms residing within tumor tissues, represent an emerging and intriguing field in cancer biology. These microbial populations are distinct from the well-studied gut microbiota, offering novel insights into tumor biology, cancer progression, and potential therapeutic interventions. Recent studies have explored the use of certain antibiotics to modulate intratumoral microbiota and enhance the efficacy of cancer therapies, showing promising results. Antibiotics can alter intratumoral microbiota's composition, which may have a major role in promoting cancer progression and immune evasion. Certain bacteria within tumors can promote immunosuppression and resistance to therapies. By targeting these bacteria, antibiotics can help create a more favorable environment for chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy to act effectively. Some bacteria within the tumor microenvironment produce immunosuppressive molecules that inhibit the activity of immune cells. The combination of antibiotics and other cancer therapies holds significant promise for creating a synergistic effect and enhancing the immune response against cancer. In this review, we analyze several preclinical studies that have been conducted to demonstrate the synergy between antibiotics and other cancer therapies and discuss possible clinical implications.

Minocycline as a prospective therapeutic agent for cancer and non-cancer diseases: a scoping review

Minocycline is an FDA-approved secondary-generation tetracycline antibiotic. It is a synthetic antibiotic having many biological effects, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and neuroprotective functions. This study discusses the pharmacological mechanisms of preventive and therapeutic effects of minocycline. Specifically, it provides a comprehensive overview of the molecular pathways by which minocycline acts on the different cancers, including ovarian, breast, glioma, colorectal, liver, pancreatic, lung, prostate, melanoma, head and neck, leukemia, and non-cancer diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson, schizophrenia, multiple sclerosis, Huntington, polycystic ovary syndrome, and coronavirus disease 19. Minocycline may be a potential medication for these disorders due to its strong blood-brain barrier penetrance. It is also widely accepted as a specific medication, has a well-known side-effect characteristic, is reasonably priced, making it appropriate for continuous use in managing diseases, and has been demonstrated as an oral approach because it is effectively absorbed and accomplished almost all of the body's parts.

Minocycline induced apoptosis and suppressed expression of matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9 in the breast cancer MCF-7 cells

BACKGROUND

In women, breast cancer is the second most frequent type of cancer. Looking for new and effective cancer-specific therapies with little to no adverse effects on healthy cells is critical.

OBJECTIVE

Minocycline, a second-generation tetracycline, has shown anticancer effects by targeting multiple pathways in various cancers. This study aimed to determine minocycline effects on the cell proliferation, apoptosis, and invasion of the human MCF-7 cells.

METHODS

MTT assay was used to evaluate the cytotoxicity of minocycline on the cells. Flow cytometry was performed to investigate the induction of apoptosis and the cell cycle progression. The expression levels of apoptotic and migration proteins and genes were assessed by western blotting and qRT-PCR. The scratch test was performed to evaluate the anti-migration effect of the drug.

RESULTS

The results indicated that the IC50 value of minocycline for MCF-7 cells was 36.10 µM. Minocycline treatment caused sub-G1 cell accumulation, indicating a significant apoptotic effect on the MCF-7 cells. Annexin-V/PI staining revealed a significant rise in early and late apoptotic cell percentages. Minocycline up-regulated Bax and Caspase-3 expression and down-regulated Bcl-2 and Pro-Cas3. The scratch test revealed significant anti-migration effects for minocycline. Furthermore, it caused down-regulation of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in a concentration-dependent method.

CONCLUSION

These findings further confirmed the anticancer effect of minocycline and highlighted that minocycline maybe considered as potential therapeutic agent for breast cancer treatment.

Tetracycline antibiotics: Potential anticancer drugs

In recent years, research on tetracycline antibiotics has gradually shifted from their antibacterial effects to anticancer effects. Doxycycline, minocycline, and tigecycline as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved tetracycline antibiotics have been the main subjects of studies. Evidence indicated that they have anticancer properties and are able to control cancer progression through different mechanisms, such as anti-proliferation, anti-metastasis, and promotion of autophagy or apoptosis. In addition, studies have shown that these three tetracycline antibiotics can be utilized in conjunction with chemotherapeutic and targeted drugs to inhibit cancer progression and improve the quality of patient survival. Therefore, doxycycline, minocycline, and tigecycline are taken as examples in this work. Their mechanisms of action in different cancers and related combination therapies are introduced. Their current roles in alleviating the suffering of patients undergoing chemotherapy when used as adjuvant drugs in clinical treatment are also described. Finally, the research gaps and potential research directions at this stage are briefly summarized.

Local Administration of Minocycline Improves Nerve Regeneration in Two Rat Nerve Injury Models

Peripheral nerve injuries are quite common and often require a surgical intervention. However, even after surgery, patients do not often regain satisfactory sensory and motor functions. This, in turn, results in a heavy socioeconomic burden. To some extent, neurons can regenerate from the proximal nerve stump and try to reconnect to the distal stump. However, this regenerating capacity is limited, and depending on the type and size of peripheral nerve injury, this process may not lead to a positive outcome. To date, no pharmacological approach has been used to improve nerve regeneration following repair surgery. We elected to investigate the effects of local delivery of minocycline on nerve regeneration. This molecule has been studied in the central nervous system and was shown to improve the outcome in many disease models. In this study, we first tested the effects of minocycline on SCL 4.1/F7 Schwann cells in vitro and on sciatic nerve explants. We specifically focused on the Schwann cell repair phenotype, as these cells play a central role in orchestrating nerve regeneration. Finally, we delivered minocycline locally in two different rat models of nerve injury, a sciatic nerve transection and a sciatic nerve autograft, demonstrating the capacity of local minocycline treatment to improve nerve regeneration.

Chemotherapeutic Drug-Regulated Cytokines Might Influence Therapeutic Efficacy in HCC

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common type of liver cancer, is the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Processes involved in HCC progression and development, including cell transformation, proliferation, metastasis, and angiogenesis, are inflammation-associated carcinogenic processes because most cases of HCC develop from chronic liver damage and inflammation. Inflammation has been demonstrated to be a crucial factor inducing tumor development in various cancers, including HCC. Cytokines play critical roles in inflammation to accelerate tumor invasion and metastasis by mediating the migration of immune cells into damaged tissues in response to proinflammatory stimuli. Currently, surgical resection followed by chemotherapy is the most common curative therapeutic regimen for HCC. However, after chemotherapy, drug resistance is clearly observed, and cytokine secretion is dysregulated. Various chemotherapeutic agents, including cisplatin, etoposide, and 5-fluorouracil, demonstrate even lower efficacy in HCC than in other cancers. Tumor resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs is the key limitation of curative treatment and is responsible for treatment failure and recurrence, thus limiting the ability to treat patients with advanced HCC. Therefore, the capability to counteract drug resistance would be a major clinical advancement. In this review, we provide an overview of links between chemotherapeutic agents and inflammatory cytokine secretion in HCC. These links might provide insight into overcoming inflammatory reactions and cytokine secretion, ultimately counteracting chemotherapeutic resistance.

Improved tumor-suppressive effect of OZ-001 combined with cisplatin mediated by mTOR/p70S6K and STAT3 inactivation in A549 human lung cancer cells

We previously reported the anticancer activity of 4-(4-fluorobenzylcarbamoylmethyl)-3-(4-cyclohexylphenyl)-2-[3-(N,N-dimethylureido)-N'-methylpropylamino]-3,4-dihydroquinazoline (OZ-001), a T-type calcium channel (TTCC) blocker, against non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in vitro and in vivo. Here, we evaluated the synergistic effect of OZ-001 and cisplatin on A549 human lung cancer cells and A549 xenograft mice. Our study demonstrated that treatment with OZ-001 and cisplatin sensitized A549 cells to cisplatin and significantly inhibited cell growth, increased the number of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL)-positive cells, and induced poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage in A549 cells and an A549 xenograft tumor mouse model. Moreover, our findings showed that mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), ribosomal protein S6 kinase (p70S6K), and signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT3) inactivation was required for apoptosis induced by the combination of OZ-001 and cisplatin in in vitro and in vivo experiments. Our results suggest that combined treatment with OZ-001 and cisplatin could potentiate antiproliferative effects via suppression of the mTOR/p70S6K and STAT3 pathways and may be considered a potential therapeutic agent for NSCLC.

Reduced replication fork speed promotes pancreatic endocrine differentiation and controls graft size

Limitations in cell proliferation are important for normal function of differentiated tissues and essential for the safety of cell replacement products made from pluripotent stem cells, which have unlimited proliferative potential. To evaluate whether these limitations can be established pharmacologically, we exposed pancreatic progenitors differentiating from human pluripotent stem cells to small molecules that interfere with cell cycle progression either by inducing G₁ arrest or by impairing S phase entry or S phase completion and determined growth potential, differentiation, and function of insulin-producing endocrine cells. We found that the combination of G₁ arrest with a compromised ability to complete DNA replication promoted the differentiation of pancreatic progenitor cells toward insulin-producing cells and could substitute for endocrine differentiation factors. Reduced replication fork speed during differentiation improved the stability of insulin expression, and the resulting cells protected mice from diabetes without the formation of cystic growths. The proliferative potential of grafts was proportional to the reduction of replication fork speed during pancreatic differentiation. Therefore, a compromised ability to enter and complete S phase is a functionally important property of pancreatic endocrine differentiation, can be achieved by reducing replication fork speed, and is an important determinant of cell-intrinsic limitations of growth.

Small molecule 2,3-DCPE induces S phase arrest by activating the ATM/ATR-Chk1-Cdc25A signaling pathway in DLD-1 colon cancer cells

In our previous study, it was reported that 2[[3-(2,3-dichlorophenoxy)propyl]amino]ethanol (2,3-DCPE) induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. The current study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanism involved in 2,3-DCPE-induced S phase arrest. The results demonstrated that 2,3-DCPE upregulated phosphorylated (p-)H2A histone family member X, a biomarker of DNA damage, in the DLD-1 colon cancer cell line. Western blotting revealed that 2,3-DCPE increased the checkpoint kinase (Chk)1 (Ser317 and Ser345) level and decreased the expression of M-phase inducer phosphatase 1 (Cdc25A) in a time-dependent manner. Subsequently, the results demonstrated that the ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) and ataxia-telangiectasia and Rad3-related (ATR) inhibitors wortmannin and caffeine had no effect on the cell cycle; however, the inhibitors partially abrogated 2,3-DCPE-induced S phase arrest. Flow cytometry assays revealed that caffeine (2 mM) reduced the proportion of S phase cells from 83 to 39.6% and that wortmannin (500 nM) reduced the proportion of S phase cells from 83 to 48.2%. Furthermore, wortmannin and caffeine inhibited the 2,3-DCPE-mediated phosphorylation of Chk1 and the degradation of Cdc25A. However, these ATM/ATR inhibitors had limited effect on 2,3-DCPE-induced apoptosis. Taken together, the data of the current study indicated that 2,3-DCPE caused DNA damage in colon cancer cells and that 2,3-DCPE-induced S phase arrest was associated with the activation of the ATM/ATR-Chk1-Cdc25A pathway.

Cellular and Molecular Aspects of Anti-Melanoma Effect of Minocycline-A Study of Cytotoxicity and Apoptosis on Human Melanotic Melanoma Cells

Minocycline is a tetracycline compound with pleiotropic pharmacological properties. In addition to its antibacterial action, it shows many non-antimicrobial effects, including an anti-cancer activity. The anti-cancer action was confirmed in studies on ovarian carcinoma cells, hepatocellular carcinoma cells, glioma cells, or acute myeloid leukemia cells. Malignant melanoma remains a serious medical problem despite the extensive knowledge of the disease. The low effectiveness of the standard treatment, as well as the resistance to therapy, result in high mortality rates. This work aimed to investigate the potential and mechanisms of anti-melanoma action of minocycline. Human skin melanotic melanoma cell line COLO 829 was used in the study. The obtained results showed that minocycline decreased cell viability and inhibited the growth of melanoma cells, proportional to the drug concentration as well as to the time of incubation. The EC50 values were calculated to be 78.6 µM, 31.7 µM, and 13.9 µM for 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h, respectively. It was observed that treated cells had a disturbed cell cycle and significantly changed morphology. Moreover, minocycline caused a decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential and an increase in cells with a low level of reduced thiols. Finally, it was found that the anti-melanoma effect of minocycline was related to the induction of apoptosis. The drug activated caspases 8, 9, and 3/7 as well as increased the number of annexin V-positive cells. The presented results show that minocycline possesses anti-melanoma potential.

Minocycline in Treating Glioblastoma Multiforme: Far beyond a Conventional Antibiotic

One of the most lethal forms of CNS pathologies is glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) that represents high invasiveness, uncontrolled proliferation, and angiogenic features. Its invasiveness is responsible for the high recurrence even after maximal surgical interventions. Minocycline is a semisynthetic analog of tetracyclines with potential anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects, distinct from its antimicrobial activity. In this review, we highlight the importance and the cytotoxic mechanisms of minocycline on GBM pathophysiology. Considering the role of certain enzymes in autophagy, apoptosis, tumor cell invasion, and metastatic ability, the possible use of tetracyclines for cancer therapy should be investigated, especially GBM. The present study is, therefore, going to cover the main topics in minocycline pharmacology to date, encouraging its consideration as a new treatment approach for cancer and GBM.

Minocycline Reduces Chemoradiation-Related Symptom Burden in Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Phase 2 Randomized Trial

PURPOSE

In patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), concurrent chemoradiation therapy (CRT) exacerbates a cluster of difficult-to-manage symptoms, especially cancer-related fatigue. Minocycline is a readily available, low-cost antibiotic with antiinflammatory properties. We conducted a phase 2 randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial to investigate the effect of minocycline in reducing CRT-symptom burden in NSCLC.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Patients with NSCLC scheduled to receive CRT provided consent and were randomized to receive either minocycline (100 mg twice daily) or a matching placebo during 6 to 7 weeks of CRT. Patient-reported fatigue and other symptoms were assessed on MD Anderson Symptom Inventory weekly from the start of CRT for 12 weeks. The primary outcome was 12-week (±2 days) area under the curve for symptom burden, which was compared between treatment groups.

RESULTS

Forty of 49 enrolled patients (80%) were evaluable (19 on minocycline and 21 on placebo). There were no grade 3 + adverse events related to the study medication. Fatigue was significantly reduced in the minocycline group compared with placebo group during the 12-week trial period (area under the curve = 31.2 ± 14.2 vs 45.0 ± 20.9, P = .011), with a large effect size (Cohen's d = 0.77). Pain (Cohen's d = 0.54) and shortness of breath (Cohen's d = 0.55) were also significantly reduced in the minocycline group (all P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS

Minocycline during CRT for NSCLC was feasible, had a low toxicity profile, and yielded a clinically and statistically significant positive signal in reducing symptom burden related to NSCLC and CRT. This study is a proof of concept so a larger trial in CRT patients is warranted.

Evaluation of novel platinum(ii) based AIE compound-encapsulated mesoporous silica nanoparticles for cancer theranostic application

Advanced biomedical research has established that cancer is a multifactorial disorder which is highly heterogeneous in nature and responds differently to different treatment modalities, due to which constant monitoring of therapy response is becoming extremely important. To accomplish this, different theranostic formulations have been evaluated. However, most of them are found to suffer from several limitations extending from poor resolution, radiation damage, to high costs. In order to develop a better theranostic modality, we have designed and synthesized a novel platinum(ii)-based 'aggregation induced emission' (AIE) molecule (named BMPP-Pt) which showed strong intra-cellular fluorescence and also simultaneously exhibited potent cytotoxic activity. Due to this dual functionality, we wanted to explore the possibility of using this compound as a single molecule based theranostic modality. This compound was characterized using elemental analysis, NMR and IR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and single crystal X-ray structure determination. BMPP-Pt was found to exhibit a high AIE property with emission maxima at 497 nm. For more efficient cancer cell targeting, BMPP-Pt was encapsulated into mesoporous silica nanoparticles (Pt-MSNPs) and the MSNPs were further surface modified with an anti-EpCAM aptamer (Pt-MSNP-E). Pt-MSNPs exhibited higher intracellular fluorescence compared to free BMPP-Pt, though both of them induced a similar degree of cell death via the apoptosis pathway, possibly via cell cycle arrest in the G1 phase. Anti-EpCAM aptamer modification was found to increase both cytotoxicity and intracellular fluorescence compared to unmodified MSNPs. Our study showed that EpCAM functionalized BMPP-Pt loaded MSNPs can efficiently internalize and induce apoptosis of cancer cells as well as show strong intracellular fluorescence. This study provides clues towards the development of a potential single compound based theranostic modality in future.

Minocycline alleviates sevoflurane-induced cognitive impairment in aged rats

Minocycline has been implicated in the treatment for multiple diseases in the nervous system for its neuroprotective properties. However, the mechanism by which minocycline benefits postoperative anesthesia-induced cognitive dysfunction is still unclear. In this study, we introduced minocycline to a rat model of anesthetic-induced learning and memory impairment, to investigate the effects of minocycline on neuroinflammation, beta amyloid (Aβ) deposition, and activation of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway in the hippocampus. Aged rats were treated with sevoflurane to induce cognitive impairment with and without pre-administration of minocycline. The rats were then subjected to Morris water maze tests to evaluate their learning and memory performance. Subsequently, apoptosis in the hippocampal tissue was assessed with TUNEL assays. Furthermore, the levels of apoptosis-related proteins and pro-inflammatory cytokines, Aβ responses, and activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway in the hippocampus were examined by Western blot analysis. Our results revealed that minocycline effectively alleviated sevoflurane-induced cognitive impairment in aged rats. Minocycline reduced sevoflurane-induced neuronal apoptosis and inflammation, as well as suppressed sevoflurane-induced Aβ accumulation and activation of NF-κB signaling pathway in the hippocampus of aged rats. In conclusion, our findings indicate that minocycline is a potent agent to counteract sevoflurane-induced cognitive impairment and neurotoxicity in the nervous system of aged rats, which is likely to be mediated via NF-κB signaling pathway.