Doxorubicin and 5-fluorouracil induced accumulation and transcriptional activity of p53 are independent of the phosphorylation at serine 15 in MCF-7 breast cancer cells

Metabolomics insights into doxorubicin and 5-fluorouracil combination therapy in triple-negative breast cancer: a xenograft mouse model study

Background

Breast cancer is one of the most prevalent malignancies and a leading cause of death among women worldwide. Among its subtypes, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) poses significant clinical challenges due to its aggressive behavior and limited treatment options. This study aimed to investigate the effects of doxorubicin (DOX) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) as monotherapies and in combination using an established MDA-MB-231 xenograft model in female BALB/C nude mice employing advanced metabolomics analysis to identify molecular alterations induced by these treatments.

Methods

We conducted comprehensive plasma and tumor tissue sample profiling using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS).

Results

Each treatment group exhibited unique metabolic profiles in plasma and tumor analysis. Univariate and enrichment analyses identified alterations in metabolic pathways. The combination treatment of DOX + 5-FU induced the most extensive metabolic alterations disrupting key pathways including purine, pyrimidine, beta-alanine, and sphingolipid metabolism. It significantly reduced critical metabolites such as guanine, xanthine, inosine, L-fucose, and sphinganine, demonstrating enhanced cytotoxic effects compared to individual treatments. The DOX treatment uniquely increased ornithine levels, while 5-FU altered sphingolipid metabolism, promoting apoptosis.

Significance

This in vivo study highlights TNBC's metabolic alterations to chemotherapeutics, identifying potential biomarkers like L-fucose and beta-alanine, and provides insights for improving treatment strategies.

CK1 and PP1 regulate Rift Valley fever virus genome replication through L protein phosphorylation

Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is an arbovirus in the Phenuiviridae family identified initially by the large 'abortion storms' observed among ruminants; RVFV can also infect humans. In humans, there is a wide variation of clinical symptoms ranging from subclinical to mild febrile illness to hepatitis, retinitis, delayed-onset encephalitis, or even hemorrhagic fever. The RVFV is a tri-segmented negative-sense RNA virus consisting of S, M, and L segments. The L segment encodes the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), termed the L protein, which is responsible for both viral mRNA synthesis and genome replication. Phosphorylation of viral RdRps is known to regulate viral replication. This study shows that RVFV L protein is serine phosphorylated and identified Casein Kinase 1 alpha (CK1α) and protein phosphatase 1 alpha (PP1α) as L protein binding partners. Inhibition of CK1 and PP1 through small molecule inhibitor treatment, D4476 and 1E7-03, respectively, caused a change in the phosphorylated status of the L protein. Inhibition of PP1α resulted in increased L protein phosphorylation whereas inhibition of CK1α decreased L protein phosphorylation. It was also found that in RVFV infected cells, PP1α localized to the cytoplasmic compartment. Treatment of RVFV infected cells with CK1 inhibitors reduced virus production in both mammalian and mosquito cells. Lastly, inhibition of either CK1 or PP1 reduced viral genomic RNA levels. These data indicate that L protein is phosphorylated and that CK1 and PP1 play a crucial role in regulating the L protein phosphorylation cycle, which is critical to viral RNA production and viral replication.

BRD4 Inhibition as a Strategy to Prolong the Response to Standard of Care in Estrogen Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is the most commonly occurring malignancy in women and the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths. ER+ breast cancer constitutes approximately 70% of all breast cancer cases. The standard of care for ER+ breast cancer involves estrogen antagonists such as tamoxifen or fulvestrant in combination with CDK4/6 inhibitors such as palbociclib. However, these treatments are often not curative, with disease recurrence and metastasis being responsible for patient mortality. Overexpression of the epigenetic regulator, BRD4, has been shown to be a negative prognostic indicator in breast cancer, and BET family inhibitors such as ARV-825 and ABBV-744 have garnered interest for their potential to improve and prolong the response to current therapeutic strategies. The current work examined the potential of utilizing ARV-825 and ABBV-744 to increase the effectiveness of tamoxifen or fulvestrant plus palbociclib. ARV-825 was effective in both p53 wild-type (WT) breast tumor cells and in cells lacking functional p53 either alone or in combination with tamoxifen, while the effectiveness of ABBV-744 was limited to fulvestrant plus palbociclib in p53 WT cells. These differential effects may be related to the capacity to suppress c-Myc, a downstream target of BRD4.

Quercetin Effects on Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis and Doxorubicin Activity in T47D Cancer Stem Cells

BACKGROUNDS

Targeting breast cancer stem cells with the CD44+/CD24- phenotype is critical for complete eradication of cancer cells due to its Self-renewal, differentiation, and therapeutic resistance ability. Quercetin is a popular flavonoid with lower adverse effects and has anti-tumor properties. Therefore, we assessed the anticancer activity of Quercetin and Doxorubicin alone and in combination in the T47D cells of human breast cancer and their isolated Cancer stem cells (CSCs).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The human breast cancer cell line T47D was used for this experiment. T47D CSCs were isolated by magnetic bead sorting using the MACS system. The anticancer activity of Quercetin and Doxorubicin alone and in combination were evaluated using MTT cytotoxicity assay and cell cycle distribution and apoptosis induction by flow cytometry analysis.

RESULTS

We have shown that almost 1% of T47D cell populations are made up of CD44+/CD24- cells, which considered as cancer stem cells. Quercetin and Doxorubicin alone or in combination inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in breast cancer T47D cells and in lower extent in CD44+/CD24- cells. Quercetin significantly strengthened Doxorubicin's cytotoxicity and apoptosis induction in both cell populations. Quercetin and Doxorubicin and their combination induced G2/M arrest in the T47D cells and to a lesser extent in isolated CSCs. A value of p < 0.05 was considered as indicating a statistically significant difference.

CONCLUSION

These outcomes suggested that CSCs are a minor population of cancer cells, which play a significant role in drug resistance by being quiescent, slow cycling and resistance to apoptosis. Furthermore, our data showed that adding Quercetin to Doxorubicin is an effective approach for the treatment of both CSCs and bulk tumor cells.

Wild type and gain of function mutant TP53 can regulate the sensitivity of pancreatic cancer cells to chemotherapeutic drugs, EGFR/Ras/Raf/MEK, and PI3K/mTORC1/GSK-3 pathway inhibitors, nutraceuticals and alter metabolic properties

TP53 is a master regulator of many signaling and apoptotic pathways involved in: aging, cell cycle progression, gene regulation, growth, apoptosis, cellular senescence, DNA repair, drug resistance, malignant transformation, metastasis, and metabolism. Most pancreatic cancers are classified as pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDAC). The tumor suppressor gene TP53 is mutated frequently (50-75%) in PDAC. Different types of TP53 mutations have been observed including gain of function (GOF) point mutations and various deletions of the TP53 gene resulting in lack of the protein expression. Most PDACs have point mutations at the KRAS gene which result in constitutive activation of KRas and multiple downstream signaling pathways. It has been difficult to develop specific KRas inhibitors and/or methods that result in recovery of functional TP53 activity. To further elucidate the roles of TP53 in drug-resistance of pancreatic cancer cells, we introduced wild-type (WT) TP53 or a control vector into two different PDAC cell lines. Introduction of WT-TP53 increased the sensitivity of the cells to multiple chemotherapeutic drugs, signal transduction inhibitors, drugs and nutraceuticals and influenced key metabolic properties of the cells. Therefore, TP53 is a key molecule which is critical in drug sensitivity and metabolism of PDAC.

Anticancer Effect of Amygdalin (Vitamin B-17) on Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Line (HepG2) in the Presence and Absence of Zinc

BACKGROUND

Amygdalin (Vitamin B-17) is a naturally occurring vitamin found in the seeds of the fruits of Prunus Rosacea family including apricot, bitter almond, cherry, and peach.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of amygdalin with and without zinc on hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cell line.

METHODS

MTT assay was used to evaluate the cytotoxicity of amygdalin without zinc, amygdalin + 20μmol zinc, and amygdalin + 800μmol zinc on HepG2 cell lines. The cell cycle distribution assay was determined by flow cytometry. Apoptosis was confirmed by Annexin V-FITC/PI staining assay. Moreover, the pathway of apoptosis was determined by the percentage of change in the mean levels of P53, Bcl2, Bax, cytochrome c, and caspase-3.

RESULTS

Amygdalin without zinc showed strong anti-HepG2 activity. Furthermore, HepG2 cell lines treatment with amygdalin + 20μmol zinc and amygdalin + 800μmol zinc showed a highly significant apoptotic effect than the effect of amygdalin without zinc. Amygdalin treatment induced cell cycle arrest at G2/M and increased the levels of P53, Bax, cytochrome c, and caspase-3 significantly, while it decreased the level of anti-apoptotic Bcl2.

CONCLUSION

Amygdalin is a natural anti-cancer agent, which can be used for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. It promotes apoptosis via the intrinsic cell death pathway (the mitochondria-initiated pathway) and cell cycle arrest at G/M. The potency of amygdalin in HepG2 treatment increased significantly by the addition of zinc.

Intracellular trafficking and cytotoxicity of a gelatine-doxorubicin conjugate in two breast cancer cell lines

Details of intracellular pathways of cytotoxicity remain unclear for doxorubicin conjugates being studied to treat breast cancer tumours. A high molecular weight gelatine-doxorubicin conjugate was investigated with an emphasis on lysosome participation. The conjugate was synthesised and characterised. Cell uptake and cellular localisation in MCF-7 and triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) MDA-MB-231 cells were determined with fluorescence microscopy. Nuclear content of released DOX was determined by UHPLC. Cytotoxicity was determined by the MTT assay. Lysosome membrane permeabilization (LMP) was followed by lysosomal release of fluorescently labelled dextran. After incubation at an equivalent 10 µM DOX, conjugate lysosome accumulation was substantial in both cell lines by 24 h, at which time the conjugate cytotoxic effect was first observed. By 48 h, the conjugate was nearly fourfold more toxic in TNBC than in MCF-7 cells. The MCF-7 nucleus drug content from conjugate released DOX was small but confirmed intra-lysosomal drug release. The conjugate induced LMP in 100% of TNBC cells but LMP was virtually absent in MCF-7 cells. These results suggest that the conjugate induces cytotoxicity by a lysosomal pathway in MDA-MB-231 cells and has potential for treatment of TNBC tumours. Support: NIH/NCI R15CA135421, the Agnes Varis Trust for Women's Health.

The Roles of p53 in Mitochondrial Dynamics and Cancer Metabolism: The Pendulum between Survival and Death in Breast Cancer?

Cancer research has been heavily geared towards genomic events in the development and progression of cancer. In contrast, metabolic regulation, such as aberrant metabolism in cancer, is poorly understood. Alteration in cellular metabolism was once regarded simply as a consequence of cancer rather than as playing a primary role in cancer promotion and maintenance. Resurgence of cancer metabolism research has identified critical metabolic reprogramming events within biosynthetic and bioenergetic pathways needed to fulfill the requirements of cancer cell growth and maintenance. The tumor suppressor protein p53 is emerging as a key regulator of metabolic processes and metabolic reprogramming in cancer cells&mdash;balancing the pendulum between cell death and survival. This review provides an overview of the classical and emerging non-classical tumor suppressor roles of p53 in regulating mitochondrial dynamics: mitochondrial engagement in cell death processes in the prevention of cancer. On the other hand, we discuss p53 as a key metabolic switch in cellular function and survival. The focus is then on the conceivable roles of p53 in breast cancer metabolism. Understanding the metabolic functions of p53 within breast cancer metabolism will, in due course, reveal critical metabolic hotspots that cancers advantageously re-engineer for sustenance. Illustration of these events will pave the way for finding novel therapeutics that target cancer metabolism and serve to overcome the breast cancer burden.

Anacardic acid inhibits pancreatic cancer cell growth, and potentiates chemotherapeutic effect by Chmp1A - ATM - p53 signaling pathway

BACKGROUND

Pancreatic cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer related death and its incidence has risen steadily. Although anticancer drugs have been developed based on the new molecular findings, the drugs have produced unsatisfactory results due to toxicity and resistance. Thus, a complementary therapeutic intervention is urgently needed for pancreatic cancer patients.

METHODS

The aim of this study was to assess the potential therapeutic effect of Anacardic acid on pancreatic cancer in vitro and elucidate its underlying mechanisms. Human pancreatic cancer cells were treated with Anacardic acid and assessed for the cytotoxic effect using MTT and spheroid formation assays. Using the same methods, the synergy between Anacardic acid and 5-Fluorouracil or Gemcitabine was determined. To elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms, Western blot analysis and immunocytochemistry were performed on cancer cells treated with Anacardic acid alone or in combination with 5-Fluorouracil or Gemcitabine. Chromatin Modifying Protein 1A (Chmp1A), Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated (ATM), and p53 were the primary signaling molecules examined. In addition, Chmp1A was silenced with shRNA to examine the necessity of Chmp1A for the anticancer effect of Anacardic acid, 5-Fluorouracil, or Gemcitabine.

RESULTS

Anacardic acid induced an anticancer effect in pancreatic cancer cell lines in a dose dependent manner, and increased the cytotoxicity of 5-Fluorouracil or Gemcitabine in MTT cell viability assays. In spheroid formation assays, spheroids formed were smaller in size and in number upon Anacardic acid treatment compared to control. Mechanistically, Anacardic acid exerted its anticancer activity via the activation of Chmp1A, ATM, and p53. Interestingly, 5-Fluorouracil and Gemcitabine also induced an increase in Chmp1A protein level, suggesting that Chmp1A might mediate the cytotoxic action of chemotherapeutics. Silencing experiments indicate that Chmp1A is required for the action of Anacardic acid, but not for 5-Fluorouracil or Gemcitabine.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data suggests that Anacardic Acid might be a promising complementary supplement to slow the initiation or progression of pancreatic cancer.

Effect of the p53-tristetraprolin-stathmin-1 pathway on trophoblasts at maternal-fetal interface

Problem

To reveal the effect of p53–tristetraprolin–stathmin-1 signaling on trophoblasts and recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA).

Method of study

Stathmin-1 (STMN1), p53, and tristetraprolin (TTP) expression in paraffin-embedded villus tissue was determined using immunohistochemistry. HTR-8/SVneo cells were treated with doxorubicin to activate p53; STMN1 and TTP levels were detected by quantitative reverse transcription–PCR and western blotting. Western blotting and immunofluorescence were used to investigate STMN1 expression after TTP overexpression or knockdown in HTR-8 cells.

Results

STMN1 was downregulated and p53 was upregulated in the villus tissue from patients with RSA. Doxorubicin decreased STMN1 expression but enhanced TTP expression in HTR-8 cells. In vitro, TTP overexpression inhibited STMN1 production; TTP knockdown promoted it. TTP downregulated STMN1 expression in trophoblasts by directly binding its 3ʹ untranslated region.

Conclusions

TTP modulates trophoblast function and interacts with STMN1 and p53, and is related to pregnancy outcomes.

Annexin/S100A Protein Family Regulation through p14ARF-p53 Activation: A Role in Cell Survival and Predicting Treatment Outcomes in Breast Cancer

The annexin family and S100A associated proteins are important regulators of diverse calcium-dependent cellular processes including cell division, growth regulation and apoptosis. Dysfunction of individual annexin and S100A proteins is associated with cancer progression, metastasis and cancer drug resistance. This manuscript describes the novel finding of differential regulation of the annexin and S100A family of proteins by activation of p53 in breast cancer cells. Additionally, the observed differential regulation is found to be beneficial to the survival of breast cancer cells and to influence treatment efficacy. We have used unbiased, quantitative proteomics to determine the proteomic changes occurring post p14ARF-p53 activation in estrogen receptor (ER) breast cancer cells. In this report we identified differential regulation of the annexin/S100A family, through unique peptide recognition at the N-terminal regions, demonstrating p14ARF-p53 is a central orchestrator of the annexin/S100A family of calcium regulators in favor of pro-survival functions in the breast cancer cell. This regulation was found to be cell-type specific. Retrospective human breast cancer studies have demonstrated that tumors with functional wild type p53 (p53wt) respond poorly to some chemotherapy agents compared to tumors with a non-functional p53. Given that modulation of calcium signaling has been demonstrated to change sensitivity of chemotherapeutic agents to apoptotic signals, in principle, we explored the paradigm of how p53 modulation of calcium regulators in ER+ breast cancer patients impacts and influences therapeutic outcomes.

Doxorubicin attenuates CHIP-guarded HSF1 nuclear translocation and protein stability to trigger IGF-IIR-dependent cardiomyocyte death

Doxorubicin (DOX) is one of the most effective antitumor drugs, but its cardiotoxicity has been a major concern for its use in cancer therapy for decades. Although DOX-induced cardiotoxicity has been investigated, the underlying mechanisms responsible for this cardiotoxicity have not been completely elucidated. Here, we found that the insulin-like growth factor receptor II (IGF-IIR) apoptotic signaling pathway was responsible for DOX-induced cardiotoxicity via proteasome-mediated heat shock transcription factor 1 (HSF1) degradation. The carboxyl-terminus of Hsp70 interacting protein (CHIP) mediated HSF1 stability and nuclear translocation through direct interactions via its tetratricopeptide repeat domain to suppress IGF-IIR expression and membrane translocation under physiological conditions. However, DOX attenuated the HSF1 inhibition of IGF-IIR expression by diminishing the CHIP–HSF1 interaction, removing active nuclear HSF1 and triggering HSF1 proteasomal degradation. Overexpression of CHIP redistributed HSF1 into the nucleus, inhibiting IGF-IIR expression and preventing DOX-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis. Moreover, HSF1A, a small molecular drug that enhances HSF1 activity, stabilized HSF1 expression and minimized DOX-induced cardiac damage in vitro and in vivo. Our results suggest that the cardiotoxic effects of DOX result from the prevention of CHIP-mediated HSF1 nuclear translocation and activation, which leads to an upregulation of the IGF-IIR apoptotic signaling pathway. We believe that the administration of an HSF1 activator or agonist may further protect against the DOX-induced cell death of cardiomyocytes.

p53 inhibits the expression of p125 and the methylation of POLD1 gene promoter by downregulating the Sp1-induced DNMT1 activities in breast cancer

p125 is one of four subunits of human DNA polymerases – DNA Pol δ as well as one of p53 target protein encoded by POLD1. However, the function and significance of p125 and the role that p53 plays in regulating p125 expression are not fully understood in breast cancer. Tissue sections of human breast cancer obtained from 70 patients whose median age was 47.6 years (range: 38–69 years) with stage II–III breast cancer were studied with normal breast tissue from the same patients and two human breast cell lines (MCF-7 and MCF-10A). p53 expression levels were reduced, while p125 protein expression was increased in human breast cancer tissues and cell line detected by Western blot and quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. The methylation level of the POLD1 gene promoter was greater in breast cancer tissues and cells when compared with normal tissues and cells. In MCF-7 cell model, p53 overexpression caused a decrease in the level of p125 protein, while the methylation level of the p125 gene promoter was also inhibited by p53 overexpression. To further investigate the regulating mechanism of p53 on p125 expression, our study focused on DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) and transcription factor Sp1. Both DNMT1 and Sp1 protein expression were reduced when p53 was overexpressed in MCF-7 cells. The Sp1 binding site appears to be important for DNMT1 gene transcription; Sp1 and p53 can bind together, which means that DNMT1 gene expression may be downregulated by p53 through binding to Sp1. Because DNMT1 methylation level of the p125 gene promoter can affect p125 gene transcription, we propose that p53 may indirectly regulate p125 gene promoter expression through the control of DNMT1 gene transcription. In conclusion, the data from this preliminary study have shown that p53 inhibits the methylation of p125 gene promoter by downregulating the activities of Sp1 and DNMT1 in breast cancer.