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Guler A, Hamurcu Z, Ulutabanca H, Cınar V, Nurdinov N, Erdem S, Ozpolat B. Flavopiridol Suppresses Cell Proliferation and Migration and Induces Apoptotic Cell Death by Inhibiting Oncogenic FOXM1 Signaling in IDH Wild-Type and IDH-Mutant GBM Cells. Mol Neurobiol 2024; 61:1061-1079. [PMID: 37676393 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03609-z] [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: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023]
Abstract
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) remains one of the most challenging solid cancers to treat due to its highly aggressive and drug-resistant nature. Flavopiridol is synthetic flavone that was recently approved by the FDA for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia. Flavopiridol exhibits antiproliferative activity in several solid cancer cells and currently evaluated in clinical trials in several solid and hematological cancers. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying antiproliferative effects of flavopiridol in GBM cell lines with wild-type and mutant encoding isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1). We found that flavopiridol inhibits proliferation, colony formation, and migration and induces apoptosis in IDH1 wild-type and IDH-mutant cells through inhibition of FOXM1 oncogenic signaling. Furthermore, flavopiridol treatment also inhibits of NF-KB, mediators unfolded protein response (UPR), including, GRP78, PERK and IRE1α, and DNA repair enzyme PARP, which have been shown to be potential therapeutic targets by downregulating FOXM1 in GBM cells. Our findings suggest for the first time that flavopiridol suppresses proliferation, survival, and migration and induces apoptosis in IDH1 wild-type and IDH1-mutant GBM cells by targeting FOXM1 oncogenic signaling which also regulates NF-KB, PARP, and UPR response in GBM cells. Flavopiridol may be a potential novel therapeutic strategy in the treatment of patients IDH1 wild-type and IDH1-mutant GBM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahsen Guler
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey
- Betül-Ziya Eren Genome and Stem Cell Center, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Zuhal Hamurcu
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey.
- Betül-Ziya Eren Genome and Stem Cell Center, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey.
| | - Halil Ulutabanca
- Betül-Ziya Eren Genome and Stem Cell Center, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey
- Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Venhar Cınar
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey
- Betül-Ziya Eren Genome and Stem Cell Center, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Nursultan Nurdinov
- Betül-Ziya Eren Genome and Stem Cell Center, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey
- Faculties of Medicine and Dentistry, Ahmet Yesevi University, Turkestan, Kazakhstan
| | - Serife Erdem
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey
- Betül-Ziya Eren Genome and Stem Cell Center, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Bulent Ozpolat
- Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, USA.
- Methodist Neil Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
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2
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Kuo YH, Lai TC, Chang CH, Hsieh HC, Yang FM, Hu MC. 5,6-Dichloro-1-β-D-ribofuranosylbenzimidazole (DRB) induces apoptosis in breast cancer cells through inhibiting of Mcl-1 expression. Sci Rep 2023; 13:12621. [PMID: 37537243 PMCID: PMC10400577 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-39340-x] [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: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The effective treatment of breast cancer remains a profound clinical challenge, especially due to drug resistance and metastasis which unfortunately arise in many patients. The transcription inhibitor 5,6-dichloro-1-beta-D-ribofuranosyl-benzimidazole (DRB), as a selective inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinase 9, was shown to be effective in inducing apoptosis in various hematopoietic malignancies. However, the anticancer efficacy of DRB against breast cancer is still unclear. Herein, we demonstrated that administration of DRB to the breast cancer cell line led to the inhibition of cellular proliferation and induction of the typical signs of apoptotic cells, including the increases in Annexin V-positive cells, DNA fragmentation, and activation of caspase-7, caspase-9, and poly (ADP ribose) polymerase (PARP). Treatment of DRB resulted in a rapid decline in the myeloid cell leukemia 1 (Mcl-1) protein, whereas levels of other antiapoptotic proteins did not change. Overexpression of Mcl-1 decreased the DRB-induced PARP cleavage, whereas knockdown of Mcl-1 enhanced the effects of DRB on PARP activation, indicating that loss of Mcl-1 accounts for the DRB-mediated apoptosis in MCF-7 cells, but not in T-47D. Furthermore, we found that co-treatment of MCF-7 cells with an inhibitor of AKT (LY294002) or an inhibitor of the proteasome (MG-132) significantly augmented the DRB-induced apoptosis. These data suggested that DRB in combination with LY294002 or MG-132 may have a greater therapeutic potency against breast cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Hsuan Kuo
- Graduate Institute of Physiology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, 100, Taiwan
| | - Tsai-Chun Lai
- Graduate Institute of Physiology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, 100, Taiwan
- Department of Life Sciences, College of Life Sciences, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, 402, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Hsin Chang
- Graduate Institute of Physiology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, 100, Taiwan
| | - Han-Ching Hsieh
- Graduate Institute of Physiology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, 100, Taiwan
| | - Feng-Ming Yang
- School of Respiratory Therapy, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, 110, Taiwan.
| | - Meng-Chun Hu
- Graduate Institute of Physiology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, 100, Taiwan.
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3
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Design, synthesis and anticancer evaluation of selective 2,4-disubstituted pyrimidine CDK9 inhibitors. Eur J Med Chem 2022; 244:114875. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2022.114875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Revised: 10/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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4
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Shao H, Foley DW, Huang S, Abbas AY, Lam F, Gershkovich P, Bradshaw TD, Pepper C, Fischer PM, Wang S. Structure-based design of highly selective 2,4,5-trisubstituted pyrimidine CDK9 inhibitors as anti-cancer agents. Eur J Med Chem 2021; 214:113244. [PMID: 33581551 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2020] [Revised: 01/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) are a family of Ser/Thr kinases involved in cell cycle and transcriptional regulation. CDK9 regulates transcriptional elongation and this unique property has made it a potential target for several diseases. Due to the conserved ATP binding site, designing selective CDK9 inhibitors has been challenging. Here we report our continued efforts in the optimization of 2,4,5-tri-substituted pyrimidine compounds as potent and selective CDK9 inhibitors. The most selective compound 30m was >100-fold selective for CDK9 over CDK1 and CDK2. These compounds showed broad anti-proliferative activities in various solid tumour cell lines and patient-derived chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) cells. Decreased phosphorylation of the carboxyl terminal domain (CTD) of RNAPII at Ser-2 and down-regulation of anti-apoptotic protein Mcl-1 were confirmed in both the ovarian cancer model A2780 and patient-derived CLL cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Shao
- School of Pharmacy and Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
| | - David W Foley
- School of Pharmacy and Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Shiliang Huang
- School of Pharmacy and Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Abdullahi Y Abbas
- School of Pharmacy and Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Frankie Lam
- Drug Discovery and Development, Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, 5001, Australia
| | - Pavel Gershkovich
- School of Pharmacy and Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Tracey D Bradshaw
- School of Pharmacy and Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Chris Pepper
- Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 9PX, UK
| | - Peter M Fischer
- School of Pharmacy and Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK.
| | - Shudong Wang
- School of Pharmacy and Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK; Drug Discovery and Development, Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, 5001, Australia.
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5
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He S, Fang X, Xia X, Hou T, Zhang T. Targeting CDK9: A novel biomarker in the treatment of endometrial cancer. Oncol Rep 2020; 44:1929-1938. [PMID: 32901849 PMCID: PMC7551504 DOI: 10.3892/or.2020.7746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Endometrial cancer is one of the three major malignant tumors of the female reproductive system. Although cyclin-dependent kinase 9 (CDK9) has a definitive pathogenic role in various types of cancer, little is known concerning its function in endometrial cancer. Our study was conducted to evaluate the expression and therapeutic potential of CDK9 in endometrial cancer. CDK9 expression was determined by immunohistochemistry in endometrial cancer tissues constructed with paired primary, metastatic, and recurrent tumor tissues from 32 endometrial cancer patients. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) and inhibitors of CDK9 were used to evaluate the effect of CDK9 inhibition on the anti-apoptotic activity and proliferation in endometrial cancer cells. Colony formation assay and wound-healing assays were adopted to assess clonal formation and migratory capacity. The results of the immunohistochemistry demonstrated that CDK9 was highly expressed in the human endometrial cancer cell lines; moreover, it was elevated in metastatic and recurrent endometrial tumor tissue compared when compared with that in patient-matched primary endometrial tumor tissue. Knockdown of CDK9 with siRNA and inhibition of CDK9 activity with the inhibitor suppressed cell proliferation and promoted apoptosis in endometrial cancer. In conclusion, our results provide evidence that CDK9 may be a potential prognostic biomarker and a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of endometrial cancer in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shasha He
- Department of Oncology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410000, P.R. China
| | - Xiaoling Fang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410000, P.R. China
| | - Xiaomeng Xia
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410000, P.R. China
| | - Tao Hou
- Department of Oncology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410000, P.R. China
| | - Tingting Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410000, P.R. China
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6
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Hypoxia-induced GBE1 expression promotes tumor progression through metabolic reprogramming in lung adenocarcinoma. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2020; 5:54. [PMID: 32439898 PMCID: PMC7242448 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-020-0152-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Revised: 02/24/2020] [Accepted: 03/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Hypoxia mediates a metabolic switch from oxidative phosphorylation to glycolysis and increases glycogen synthesis. We previously found that glycogen branching enzyme (GBE1) is downstream of the hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF1) signaling pathway in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) cells; however, the molecular mechanism underlying HIF1 regulation of GBE1 expression remains unknown. Herein, the effect of GBE1 on tumor progression via changes in metabolic signaling under hypoxia in vitro and in vivo was evaluated, and GBE1-related genes from human specimens and data sets were analyzed. Hypoxia induced GBE1 upregulation in LUAD cells. GBE1-knockdown A549 cells showed impaired cell proliferation, clone formation, cell migration and invasion, angiogenesis, tumor growth, and metastasis. GBE1 mediated the metabolic reprogramming of LUAD cells. The expression of gluconeogenesis pathway molecules, especially fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (FBP1), was markedly higher in shGBE1 A549 cells than it was in the control cells. FBP1 inhibited the tumor progression of LUAD. GBE1-mediated FBP1 suppression via promoter methylation enhanced HIF1α levels through NF-κB signaling. GBE1 may be a negative prognostic biomarker for LUAD patients. Altogether, hypoxia-induced HIF1α mediated GBE1 upregulation, suppressing FBP1 expression by promoter methylation via NF-κB signaling in LUAD cells. FBP1 blockade upregulated HIF1α, triggered the switch to anaerobic glycolysis, and enhanced glucose uptake. Therefore, targeting HIF1α/GBE1/NF-κB/FBP1 signaling may be a potential therapeutic strategy for LUAD.
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7
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Juric V, Murphy B. Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors in brain cancer: current state and future directions. CANCER DRUG RESISTANCE (ALHAMBRA, CALIF.) 2020; 3:48-62. [PMID: 35582046 PMCID: PMC9094053 DOI: 10.20517/cdr.2019.105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2019] [Revised: 12/11/2019] [Accepted: 12/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) are important regulatory enzymes in the normal physiological processes that drive cell-cycle transitions and regulate transcription. Virtually all cancers harbour genomic alterations that lead to the constitutive activation of CDKs, resulting in the proliferation of cancer cells. CDK inhibitors (CKIs) are currently in clinical use for the treatment of breast cancer, combined with endocrine therapy. In this review, we describe the potential of CKIs for the treatment of cancer with specific focus on glioblastoma (GBM), the most common and aggressive primary brain tumour in adults. Despite intense effort to combat GBM with surgery, radiation and temozolomide chemotherapy, the median survival for patients is 15 months and the majority of patients experience disease recurrence within 6-8 months of treatment onset. Novel therapeutic approaches are urgently needed for both newly diagnosed and recurrent GBM patients. In this review, we summarise the current preclinical and clinical findings emphasising that CKIs could represent an exciting novel approach for GBM treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viktorija Juric
- Department of Physiology and Medical Physics, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin D02, Ireland
| | - Brona Murphy
- Department of Physiology and Medical Physics, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin D02, Ireland
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8
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d'Angelo M, Castelli V, Benedetti E, Antonosante A, Catanesi M, Dominguez-Benot R, Pitari G, Ippoliti R, Cimini A. Theranostic Nanomedicine for Malignant Gliomas. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2019; 7:325. [PMID: 31799246 PMCID: PMC6868071 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2019.00325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2019] [Accepted: 10/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain tumors mainly originate from glial cells and are classified as gliomas. Malignant gliomas represent an incurable disease; indeed, after surgery and chemotherapy, recurrence appears within a few months, and mortality has remained high in the last decades. This is mainly due to the heterogeneity of malignant gliomas, indicating that a single therapy is not effective for all patients. In this regard, the advent of theranostic nanomedicine, a combination of imaging and therapeutic agents, represents a strategic tool for the management of malignant brain tumors, allowing for the detection of therapies that are specific to the single patient and avoiding overdosing the non-responders. Here, recent theranostic nanomedicine approaches for glioma therapy are described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele d'Angelo
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Vanessa Castelli
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Benedetti
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Andrea Antonosante
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Mariano Catanesi
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Reyes Dominguez-Benot
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Pitari
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Rodolfo Ippoliti
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Annamaria Cimini
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
- Department of Biology, Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
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9
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Wang J, Dean DC, Hornicek FJ, Shi H, Duan Z. Cyclin-dependent kinase 9 (CDK9) is a novel prognostic marker and therapeutic target in ovarian cancer. FASEB J 2019; 33:5990-6000. [PMID: 30726104 PMCID: PMC6463912 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201801789rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Despite surgical and chemotherapeutic advances over the past few decades, the prognosis for ovarian cancer remains very poor. Although cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 9 has an established pathogenic role in various cancers, its function in ovarian cancer remains poorly defined. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the expression of CDK9 and its therapeutic potential in ovarian cancer. CDK9 expression was determined by immunohistochemistry in a unique ovarian cancer tissue microarray constructed with paired primary, metastatic, and recurrent tumor tissues from 26 ovarian cancer patients. CDK9 was highly expressed in human ovarian cancer cell lines and was also elevated in metastatic and recurrent ovarian tumor tissue compared with patient-matched primary ovarian tumor tissue. In addition, increased CDK9 significantly correlated with poor patient prognosis. Inhibition of CDK9 by small interfering RNA or CDK9 inhibitor functionally suppressed RNA transcription elongation, induced apoptosis, and reduced proliferation of ovarian cancer cells. Inhibition of CDK9 also suppressed ovarian cancer cell spheroid growth, clonogenicity formation, and migration activity. Our results reveal CDK9 as a novel prognostic biomarker and a promising therapeutic target for preventing metastasis and recurrence while also improving the overall clinical outcome for ovarian cancer patients.-Wang, J., Dean, D. C., Hornicek, F. J., Shi, H., Duan, Z. Cyclin-dependent kinase 9 (CDK9) is a novel prognostic marker and therapeutic target in ovarian cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinglu Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China;,Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California–Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Dylan C. Dean
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California–Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Francis J. Hornicek
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California–Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Huirong Shi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China;,Correspondence: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, 1 Jianshe East Rd., Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, China. E-mail:
| | - Zhenfeng Duan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China;,Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California–Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA,Correspondence: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine,University of California–Los Angeles, 615 Charles E. Young Dr. South, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA. E-mail:
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10
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Paparidis NFDS, Durvale MC, Canduri F. The emerging picture of CDK9/P-TEFb: more than 20 years of advances since PITALRE. MOLECULAR BIOSYSTEMS 2017; 13:246-276. [PMID: 27833949 DOI: 10.1039/c6mb00387g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
CDK9 is a prominent member of the transcriptional CDKs subfamily, a group of kinases whose function is to control the primary steps of mRNA synthesis and processing by eukaryotic RNA polymerase II. As a cyclin-dependent kinase, CDK9 activation in vivo depends upon its association with T-type cyclins to assemble the positive transcription elongation factor (P-TEFb). Although CDK9/P-TEFb phosphorylates the C-terminal domain of RNAP II in the same positions targeted by CDK7 (TFIIH) and CDK8 (Mediator), the former does not participate in the transcription initiation, but rather plays a unique role by driving the polymerase to productive elongation. In addition to RNAP II CTD, the negative transcription elongation factors DSIF and NELF also represent major CDK9 substrates, whose phosphorylation is required to overcome the proximal pause of the polymerase. CDK9 is recruited to specific genes through proteins that interact with both P-TEFb and distinct elements in DNA, RNA or chromatin, where it modulates the activity of individual RNAP II transcription complexes. The regulation of CDK9 function is an intricate network that includes post-translational modifications (phosphorylation/dephosphorylation and acetylation/deacetylation of key residues) as well as the association of P-TEFb with various proteins that can stimulate or inhibit its kinase activity. Several cases of CDK9 deregulation have been linked to important human diseases, including various types of cancer and also AIDS (due to its essential role in HIV replication). Not only HIV, but also many other human viruses have been shown to depend strongly on CDK9 activity to be transcribed within host cells. This review summarizes the main advances made on CDK9/P-TEFb field in more than 20 years, introducing the structural, functional and genetic aspects that have been elucidated ever since.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolas Ferreira Dos Santos Paparidis
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Physics, Institute of Chemistry of Sao Carlos, Sao Paulo University, Av. Trabalhador Sãocarlense, 400, Zip Code 780, 13560-970, São Carlos-SP, Brazil.
| | - Maxwell Castro Durvale
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Sao Paulo University, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 748, 05508-000, Butantã - São Paulo - SP, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Canduri
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Physics, Institute of Chemistry of Sao Carlos, Sao Paulo University, Av. Trabalhador Sãocarlense, 400, Zip Code 780, 13560-970, São Carlos-SP, Brazil.
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11
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Abstract
CDK9 is a protein in constant development in cancer therapy. Herein we present an overview of the enzyme as a target for cancer therapy. We provide data on its characteristics and mechanism of action. In recent years, CDK9 inhibitors that have been designed with molecular modeling have demonstrated good antitumoral activity in vitro. Clinical studies of the drugs flavopiridol, dinaciclib, seliciclib, SNS-032 and RGB-286638 used as CDK9 inhibitors are also reviewed, with their additional targets and their relative IC50 values. Unfortunately, treatment with these drugs remains unsuccessful and involves many adverse effects. We could conclude that there are many small molecules that bind to CDK9, but their lack of selectivity against other CDKs do not allow them to get to the clinical use. However, drug designers currently have the tools needed to improve the selectivity of CDK9 inhibitors and to make successful treatment available to patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatima Morales
- a Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Center for Biotechnology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University , Philadelphia , PA , USA
| | - Antonio Giordano
- a Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Center for Biotechnology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University , Philadelphia , PA , USA.,b Department of Medicine , Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena , Siena , Italy
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12
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Matrone G, Mullins JJ, Tucker CS, Denvir MA. Effects of Cyclin Dependent Kinase 9 inhibition on zebrafish larvae. Cell Cycle 2016; 15:3060-3069. [PMID: 27715402 PMCID: PMC5134698 DOI: 10.1080/15384101.2016.1231283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
CDK9 is a known regulator of cellular transcription, growth and proliferation. Small molecule inhibitors are currently being developed and assessed in clinical trials as anti-cancer drugs. The zebrafish embryo provides an ideal model to explore the effects of CDK9 inhibition in-vivo. This has not been adequately explored previously at the level of a whole organism. We have compared and contrasted the effects of pharmacological and molecular inhibition of CDK9 on somatic growth, apoptosis and cellular proliferation in zebrafish larvae between 0 to 120 hours post fertilisation (hpf) using flavopiridol, a selective CDK9 antagonist, and CDK9-targeting morpholino. We demonstrate that the inhibition of CDK9 diminishes cellular proliferation and increases apoptosis. Subsequently, it affects somatic growth and development of a number of key embryonic structures including the brain, heart, eye and blood vessels. For the first time, we have localized CDK9 at a subcellular level in whole-mounted larvae. This works shows, at a high-throughput level, that CDK9 clearly plays a fundamental role in early cellular growth and proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianfranco Matrone
- a British Heart Foundation Centre for Cardiovascular Science, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh , UK.,b Department of Cardiovascular Sciences , Methodist Hospital Research Institute , Houston , TX , USA
| | - John J Mullins
- a British Heart Foundation Centre for Cardiovascular Science, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh , UK
| | - Carl S Tucker
- a British Heart Foundation Centre for Cardiovascular Science, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh , UK
| | - Martin A Denvir
- a British Heart Foundation Centre for Cardiovascular Science, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh , UK
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13
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Cimini A, d'Angelo M, Benedetti E, D'Angelo B, Laurenti G, Antonosante A, Cristiano L, Di Mambro A, Barbarino M, Castelli V, Cinque B, Cifone MG, Ippoliti R, Pentimalli F, Giordano A. Flavopiridol: An Old Drug With New Perspectives? Implication for Development of New Drugs. J Cell Physiol 2016; 232:312-322. [PMID: 27171480 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.25421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2016] [Accepted: 05/10/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Glioblastoma, the most common brain tumor, is characterized by high proliferation rate, invasion, angiogenesis, and chemo- and radio-resistance. One of most remarkable feature of glioblastoma is the switch toward a glycolytic energetic metabolism that leads to high glucose uptake and consumption and a strong production of lactate. Activation of several oncogene pathways like Akt, c-myc, and ras induces glycolysis and angiogenesis and acts to assure glycolysis prosecution, tumor proliferation, and resistance to therapy. Therefore, the high glycolytic flux depends on the overexpression of glycolysis-related genes resulting in an overproduction of pyruvate and lactate. Metabolism of glioblastoma thus represents a key issue for cancer research. Flavopiridol is a synthetic flavonoid that inhibits a wide range of Cyclin-dependent kinase, that has been demonstrate to inactivate glycogen phosphorylase, decreasing glucose availability for glycolysis. In this work the study of glucose metabolism upon flavopiridol treatment in the two different glioblastoma cell lines. The results obtained point towards an effect of flavopiridol in glycolytic cells, thus suggesting a possible new use of this compound or flavopiridol-derived formulations in combination with anti-proliferative agents in glioblastoma patients. J. Cell. Physiol. 232: 312-322, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annamaria Cimini
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy. .,National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN), Gran Sasso National Laboratory (LNGS), Assergi, Italy. .,Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine and Center for Biotechnology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
| | - Michele d'Angelo
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Benedetti
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Barbara D'Angelo
- Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine and Center for Biotechnology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Giulio Laurenti
- Institute of Metabolism and System Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Andrea Antonosante
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Loredana Cristiano
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Antonella Di Mambro
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Marcella Barbarino
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Vanessa Castelli
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Benedetta Cinque
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Maria Grazia Cifone
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Rodolfo Ippoliti
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Francesca Pentimalli
- Department of Experimental Oncology, National Institute of Tumors "G. Pascale", Naples, Italy
| | - Antonio Giordano
- Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine and Center for Biotechnology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. .,Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
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14
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Srivastava R, Ahn SH. Modifications of RNA polymerase II CTD: Connections to the histone code and cellular function. Biotechnol Adv 2015; 33:856-72. [PMID: 26241863 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2015.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2015] [Revised: 07/08/2015] [Accepted: 07/28/2015] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
At the onset of transcription, many protein machineries interpret the cellular signals that regulate gene expression. These complex signals are mostly transmitted to the indispensable primary proteins involved in transcription, RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) and histones. RNAPII and histones are so well coordinated in this cellular function that each cellular signal is precisely allocated to specific machinery depending on the stage of transcription. The carboxy-terminal domain (CTD) of RNAPII in eukaryotes undergoes extensive posttranslational modification, called the 'CTD code', that is indispensable for coupling transcription with many cellular processes, including mRNA processing. The posttranslational modification of histones, known as the 'histone code', is also critical for gene transcription through the reversible and dynamic remodeling of chromatin structure. Notably, the histone code is closely linked with the CTD code, and their combinatorial effects enable the delicate regulation of gene transcription. This review elucidates recent findings regarding the CTD modifications of RNAPII and their coordination with the histone code, providing integrative pathways for the fine-tuned regulation of gene expression and cellular function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rakesh Srivastava
- Division of Molecular and Life Sciences, College of Science and Technology, Hanyang University, Ansan, Republic of Korea
| | - Seong Hoon Ahn
- Division of Molecular and Life Sciences, College of Science and Technology, Hanyang University, Ansan, Republic of Korea.
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15
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Lam F, Abbas AY, Shao H, Teo T, Adams J, Li P, Bradshaw TD, Fischer PM, Walsby E, Pepper C, Chen Y, Ding J, Wang S. Targeting RNA transcription and translation in ovarian cancer cells with pharmacological inhibitor CDKI-73. Oncotarget 2014; 5:7691-704. [PMID: 25277198 PMCID: PMC4202154 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.2296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2014] [Accepted: 07/31/2014] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Dysregulation of cellular transcription and translation is a fundamental hallmark of cancer. As CDK9 and Mnks play pivotal roles in the regulation of RNA transcription and protein synthesis, respectively, they are important targets for drug development. We herein report the cellular mechanism of a novel CDK9 inhibitor CDKI-73 in an ovarian cancer cell line (A2780). We also used shRNA-mediated CDK9 knockdown to investigate the importance of CDK9 in the maintenance of A2780 cells. This study revealed that CDKI-73 rapidly inhibited cellular CDK9 kinase activity and down-regulated the RNAPII phosphorylation. This subsequently caused a decrease in the eIF4E phosphorylation by blocking Mnk1 kinase activity. Consistently, CDK9 shRNA was also found to down-regulate the Mnk1 expression. Both CDKI-73 and CDK9 shRNA decreased anti-apoptotic proteins Mcl-1 and Bcl-2 and induced apoptosis. The study confirmed that CDK9 is required for cell survival and that ovarian cancer may be susceptible to CDK9 inhibition strategy. The data also implied a role of CDK9 in eIF4E-mediated translational control, suggesting that CDK9 may have important implication in the Mnk-eIF4E axis, the key determinants of PI3K/Akt/mTOR- and Ras/Raf/MAPK-mediated tumorigenic activity. As such, CDK9 inhibitor drug candidate CDKI-73 should have a major impact on these pathways in human cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frankie Lam
- Centre for Drug Discovery and Development, Sansom Institute for Health Research and School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Abdullahi Y. Abbas
- School of Pharmacy and Centre for Biomolecular Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Hao Shao
- School of Pharmacy and Centre for Biomolecular Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Theodosia Teo
- Centre for Drug Discovery and Development, Sansom Institute for Health Research and School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Julian Adams
- Centre for Drug Discovery and Development, Sansom Institute for Health Research and School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Peng Li
- Centre for Drug Discovery and Development, Sansom Institute for Health Research and School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Tracey D. Bradshaw
- School of Pharmacy and Centre for Biomolecular Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Peter M. Fischer
- School of Pharmacy and Centre for Biomolecular Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Elisabeth Walsby
- Cardiff CLL Research Group, Institute of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Health Park, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Chris Pepper
- Cardiff CLL Research Group, Institute of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Health Park, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Yi Chen
- Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Jian Ding
- Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Shudong Wang
- Centre for Drug Discovery and Development, Sansom Institute for Health Research and School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- School of Pharmacy and Centre for Biomolecular Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, United Kingdom
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16
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Albert TK, Rigault C, Eickhoff J, Baumgart K, Antrecht C, Klebl B, Mittler G, Meisterernst M. Characterization of molecular and cellular functions of the cyclin-dependent kinase CDK9 using a novel specific inhibitor. Br J Pharmacol 2014; 171:55-68. [PMID: 24102143 DOI: 10.1111/bph.12408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2013] [Revised: 07/22/2013] [Accepted: 08/11/2013] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The cyclin-dependent kinase CDK9 is an important therapeutic target but currently available inhibitors exhibit low specificity and/or narrow therapeutic windows. Here we have used a new highly specific CDK9 inhibitor, LDC000067 to interrogate gene control mechanisms mediated by CDK9. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH The selectivity of LDC000067 was established in functional kinase assays. Functions of CDK9 in gene expression were assessed with in vitro transcription experiments, single gene analyses and genome-wide expression profiling. Cultures of mouse embryonic stem cells, HeLa cells, several cancer cell lines, along with cells from patients with acute myelogenous leukaemia were also used to investigate cellular responses to LDC000067. KEY RESULTS The selectivity of LDC000067 for CDK9 over other CDKs exceeded that of the known inhibitors flavopiridol and DRB. LDC000067 inhibited in vitro transcription in an ATP-competitive and dose-dependent manner. Gene expression profiling of cells treated with LDC000067 demonstrated a selective reduction of short-lived mRNAs, including important regulators of proliferation and apoptosis. Analysis of de novo RNA synthesis suggested a wide ranging positive role of CDK9. At the molecular and cellular level, LDC000067 reproduced effects characteristic of CDK9 inhibition such as enhanced pausing of RNA polymerase II on genes and, most importantly, induction of apoptosis in cancer cells. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Our study provides a framework for the mechanistic understanding of cellular responses to CDK9 inhibition. LDC000067 represents a promising lead for the development of clinically useful, highly specific CDK9 inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- T K Albert
- Institute of Molecular Tumor Biology (IMTB), Faculty of Medicine, Westfalian Wilhelms University Muenster (WWU), Muenster, Germany
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17
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Romano G. The role of the dysfunctional akt-related pathway in cancer: establishment and maintenance of a malignant cell phenotype, resistance to therapy, and future strategies for drug development. SCIENTIFICA 2013; 2013:317186. [PMID: 24381788 PMCID: PMC3870877 DOI: 10.1155/2013/317186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2013] [Accepted: 11/14/2013] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Akt serine/threonine kinases, or PKB, are key players in the regulation of a wide variety of cellular activities, such as growth, proliferation, protection from apoptotic injuries, control of DNA damage responses and genome stability, metabolism, migration, and angiogenesis. The Akt-related pathway responds to the stimulation mediated by growth factors, cytokines, hormones, and several nutrients. Akt is present in three isoforms: Akt1, Akt2, and Akt3, which may be alternatively named PKB α , PKB β , and PKB γ , respectively. The Akt isoforms are encoded on three diverse chromosomes and their biological functions are predominantly distinct. Deregulations in the Akt-related pathway were observed in many human maladies, including cancer, cardiopathies, neurological diseases, and type-2 diabetes. This review discusses the significance of the abnormal activities of the Akt axis in promoting and sustaining malignancies, along with the development of tumor cell populations that exhibit enhanced resistance to chemo- and/or radiotherapy. This occurrence may be responsible for the relapse of the disease, which is unfortunately very often related to fatal consequences in patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaetano Romano
- Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Bio Life Science Building, Suite 456, 1900 N. 12th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA
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18
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Hayashi T, Adachi K, Ohba S, Hirose Y. The Cdk inhibitor flavopiridol enhances temozolomide-induced cytotoxicity in human glioma cells. J Neurooncol 2013; 115:169-78. [PMID: 23943501 DOI: 10.1007/s11060-013-1220-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2013] [Accepted: 08/04/2013] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The recent progress in chemotherapy for malignant gliomas is attributable to the introduction of the DNA-methylating agent temozolomide (TMZ); however, drug resistance remains a major issue. Previous studies have shown that TMZ induces prolonged arrest of human glioma cells in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle followed by a senescence-like phenomenon or mitotic catastrophe. These findings suggest that the G2 checkpoint is linked to DNA repair mechanisms. We investigated the effect of a cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) inhibitor flavopiridol (FP) that inhibits the action of Cdc2, a key protein in the G2 checkpoint pathway, on TMZ-treated glioma cells. Colony formation efficiency revealed that FP potentiated the cytotoxicity of TMZ in glioma cells in a p53-independent manner. This effect was clearly associated with the suppression of key proteins at the G2-M transition, accumulation of the cells exclusively at the G2 phase, and increase in a double-stranded DNA break marker (seen on performing immunoblotting). TMZ-resistant clones showed activation of the G2 checkpoint in response to TMZ, while FP treatment resensitized these clones to TMZ. FP also enhanced the cytotoxicity of TMZ in U87MG-AktER cells. Moreover, administration of TMZ and/or FP to nude mice with xenografted U87MG cells revealed that FP sensitized xenografted U87MG cells to TMZ in these mice. Our findings suggest that TMZ resistance could be promoted by enhanced DNA repair activity in the G2-M transition and that a Cdk inhibitor could suppress this activity, leading to potentiation of TMZ action on glioma cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takuro Hayashi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, 1-98 Kutsukake-cho Dengakugakubo, Toyoake, Aichi, 470-1192, Japan
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19
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Deregulations in the cyclin-dependent kinase-9-related pathway in cancer: implications for drug discovery and development. ISRN ONCOLOGY 2013; 2013:305371. [PMID: 23840966 PMCID: PMC3690251 DOI: 10.1155/2013/305371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2013] [Accepted: 05/19/2013] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The CDK9-related pathway is an important regulator of mammalian cell biology and is also involved in the replication cycle of several viruses, including the human immunodeficiency virus type 1. CDK9 is present in two isoforms termed CDK9-42 and CDK9-55 that bind noncovalently type T cyclins and cyclin K. This association forms a heterodimer, where CDK9 carries the enzymatic site and the cyclin partner functions as a regulatory subunit. This heterodimer is the main component of the positive transcription elongation factor b, which stabilizes RNA elongation via phosphorylation of the RNA pol II carboxyl terminal domain. Abnormal activities in the CDK9-related pathway were observed in human malignancies and cardiac hypertrophies. Thus, the elucidation of the CDK9 pathway deregulations may provide useful insights into the pathogenesis and progression of human malignancies, cardiac hypertrophy, AIDS and other viral-related maladies. These studies may lead to the improvement of kinase inhibitors for the treatment of the previously mentioned pathological conditions. This review describes the CDK9-related pathway deregulations in malignancies and the development of kinase inhibitors in cancer therapy, which can be classified into three categories: antagonists that block the ATP binding site of the catalytic domain, allosteric inhibitors, and small molecules that disrupt protein-protein interactions.
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20
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Shao H, Shi S, Huang S, Hole A, Abbas AY, Baumli S, Liu X, Lam F, Foley D, Fischer PM, Noble M, Endicott JA, Pepper C, Wang S. Substituted 4-(thiazol-5-yl)-2-(phenylamino)pyrimidines are highly active CDK9 inhibitors: synthesis, X-ray crystal structures, structure-activity relationship, and anticancer activities. J Med Chem 2013; 56:640-59. [PMID: 23301767 PMCID: PMC3579313 DOI: 10.1021/jm301475f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Cancer cells often have a high demand for antiapoptotic proteins in order to resist programmed cell death. CDK9 inhibition selectively targets survival proteins and reinstates apoptosis in cancer cells. We designed a series of 4-thiazol-2-anilinopyrimidine derivatives with functional groups attached to the C5-position of the pyrimidine or to the C4-thiazol moiety and investigated their effects on CDK9 potency and selectivity. One of the most selective compounds, 12u inhibits CDK9 with IC(50) = 7 nM and shows over 80-fold selectivity for CDK9 versus CDK2. X-ray crystal structures of 12u bound to CDK9 and CDK2 provide insights into the binding modes. This work, together with crystal structures of selected inhibitors in complex with both enzymes described in a companion paper, (34) provides a rationale for the observed SAR. 12u demonstrates potent anticancer activity against primary chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells with a therapeutic window 31- and 107-fold over those of normal B- and T-cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Shao
- School of Pharmacy and Centre
for Biomolecular Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, U.K
| | - Shenhua Shi
- School of Pharmacy and Centre
for Biomolecular Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, U.K
| | - Shiliang Huang
- School of Pharmacy and Centre
for Biomolecular Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, U.K
| | - Alison
J. Hole
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, U.K
| | - Abdullahi Y. Abbas
- School of Pharmacy and Centre
for Biomolecular Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, U.K
| | - Sonja Baumli
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, U.K
| | - Xiangrui Liu
- School of Pharmacy and Centre
for Biomolecular Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, U.K
| | - Frankie Lam
- School of Pharmacy and Centre
for Biomolecular Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, U.K
- Shool of Pharmacy and Medical
Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia
| | - David
W. Foley
- School of Pharmacy and Centre
for Biomolecular Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, U.K
| | - Peter M. Fischer
- School of Pharmacy and Centre
for Biomolecular Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, U.K
| | - Martin Noble
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, U.K
- Northern Institute for Cancer
Research, Medical School, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, U.K
| | - Jane A. Endicott
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, U.K
- Northern Institute for Cancer
Research, Medical School, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, U.K
| | - Chris Pepper
- Institute of Cancer and Genetics,
School of Medicine, Cardiff University,
Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, U.K
| | - Shudong Wang
- School of Pharmacy and Centre
for Biomolecular Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, U.K
- Shool of Pharmacy and Medical
Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia
- Phone: +61883022372. E-mail:
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