Predicting new drug indications for prostate cancer: The integration of an in silico proteochemometric network pharmacology platform with patient-derived primary prostate cells

Doxazosin inhibits vasculogenic mimicry in human non‑small cell lung cancer through inhibition of the VEGF‑A/VE‑cadherin/mTOR/MMP pathway

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, and ~85% of lung cancers are non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which has a low 5-year overall survival rate and high mortality. Several therapeutic strategies have been developed, such as targeted therapy, immuno-oncotherapy and combination therapy. However, the low survival rate indicates the urgent need for new NSCLC treatments. Vasculogenic mimicry (VM) is an endothelial cell-free tumor blood supply system of aggressive and metastatic tumor cells present during tumor neovascularization. VM is clinically responsible for tumor metastasis and resistance, and is correlated with poor prognosis in NSCLC, making it a potential therapeutic target. In the present study, A549 cells formed glycoprotein-rich lined tubular structures, and transcript levels of VM-related genes were markedly upregulated in VM-forming cells. Based on a drug repurposing strategy, it was demonstrated that doxazosin (an antihypertensive drug) displayed inhibitory activity on VM formation at non-cytotoxic concentrations. Doxazosin significantly reduced the levels of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) in the cell media during VM formation. Further experiments revealed that the protein expression levels of VEGF-A and vascular endothelial-cadherin (VE-cadherin), which contribute to tumor aggressiveness and VM formation, were downregulated following doxazosin treatment. Moreover, the downstream signaling Ephrin type-A receptor 2 (EphA2)/AKT/mTOR/MMP/Laminin-5γ2 network was inhibited in response to doxazosin treatment. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that doxazosin displayed anti-VM activity in an NSCLC cell model through the downregulation of VEGF-A and VE-cadherin levels, and the suppression of signaling pathways related to the receptor tyrosine kinase, EphA2, protein kinases, AKT and mTOR, and proteases, MMP-2 and MMP-9. These results support the add-on anti-VM effect of doxazosin as a potential agent against NSCLC.

A novel L-phenylalanine dipeptide inhibits prostate cancer cell proliferation by targeting TNFSF9

In the present study, a series of novel L-phenylalanine dipeptides were designed and synthesized by a multi-step sequence of reactions, including carbodiimide-mediated condensation, hydrolysis, mixed anhydride condensation, and nucleophilic substitution. Among them, compound 7c exhibited potent antitumor activity against prostate cancer cell PC3 in vitro and in vivo via inducing apoptosis. We investigated the significantly differentially expressed proteins in the cells caused by the compound 7c to unravel the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of PCa cell growth, which indicated that 7c mainly regulated the protein expression of apoptosis-related transcription factors, including c-Jun, IL6, LAMB3, OSMR, STC1, OLR1, SDC4 and PLAU; and 7c also regulated the protein expression of inflammatory cytokines including IL6, CXCL8, TNFSF9, TNFRSF12A and OSMR, and the phosphorylation levels of RelA. The action target confirmed that TNFSF9 protein is the critical binding target of 7c. These findings suggested that 7c could regulate the apoptosis and inflammatory response related signaling pathways for the inhibition of the proliferation of PC3 cells, implying that 7c could be considered a promising therapeutic candidate for PCa therapy.

Expansion of human amniotic epithelial cells using condition cell reprogramming technology

Human amniotic epithelial cells (hAECs) are non-immunogenic epithelial cells that can develop into cells of all three germline lineages. However, a refined clinically reliable method is required to optimize the preparation and banking procedures of hAECs for their successful translation into clinical studies. With the goal of establishing standardized clinically applicable hAECs cultured cells, we described the use of a powerful epithelial cell culture technique, termed Conditionally Reprogrammed Cells (CRC) for ex vivo expansion of hAECs. The well-established CRC culture method uses a Rho kinase inhibitor (Y-27632) and J2 mouse fibroblast feeder cells to drive the indefinite proliferation of all known epithelial cell types. In this study, we used an optimized CRC protocol to successfully culture hAECs in a CRC medium supplemented with xenogen-free human serum. We established that hAECs thrive under the CRC conditions for over 5 passages while still expressing pluripotent stem markers (OCT-4, SOX-2 and NANOG) and non-immunogenic markers (CD80, CD86 and HLA-G) suggesting that even late-passage hAECs retain their privileged phenotype. The hAECs-CRC cells were infected with a puromycin-selectable lentivirus expressing luciferase and GFP (green fluorescent protein) and stably selected with puromycin. The hAECs expressing GFP were injected subcutaneously into the flanks of Athymic and C57BL6 mice to check the tolerability and stability of cells against the immune system. Chemiluminescence imaging confirmed the presence and viability of cells at days 2, 5, and 42 without acute inflammation or any tumor formation. Collectively, these data indicate that the CRC approach offers a novel solution to expanding hAECs in humanized conditions for future clinical uses, while retaining their primary phenotype.

A comparison of isolation and culture protocols for human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells

The successful translation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from bench to bedside is predicated upon their regenerative capabilities and immunomodulatory potential. Many challenges still exist in making MSCs a viable and cost-effective therapeutic option, due in part to the challenges of sourcing MSCs from adult tissues and inconsistencies in the characterization of MSCs. In many cases, adult MSC collection is an invasive procedure, and ethical concerns and age-related heterogeneity further complicate obtaining adult tissue derived MSCs at the scales needed for clinical applications. Alternative adult sources, such as post-partum associated tissues, offer distinct advantages to overcome these challenges. However, successful therapeutic applications rely on the efficient ex-vivo expansion of the stem cells while avoiding any culture-related phenotypic alterations, which requires optimized and standardized isolation, culture, and cell preservation methods. In this review, we have compared the isolation and culture methods for MSCs originating from the human amniotic membrane (hAMSCs) of the placenta to identify the elements that support the extended subculture potential of hAMSCs without compromising their immune-privileged, pluripotent regenerative potential.Abbreviations:AM: Human amniotic membrane; ASCs: Adipose tissue-derived stem cells; BM-MSCs: Bone marrow-mesenchymal stem cells; DMEM: Dulbecco's modified eagle medium; DT: Doubling time; EMEM: Eagle's modified essential medium; ESCM: Embryonic stem cell markers; ESCs: Embryonic stem cells; hAECs: Human amniotic epithelial cells; hAMSCs: Human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells; HLA: Human leukocyte antigen; HM: Hematopoietic markers; IM: Immunogenicity markers; MHC: Major histocompatibility complex; MSCs: Mesenchymal stem cells; MCSM: Mesenchymal cell surface markers; Nanog: NANOG homeobox; Oct: Octamer binding transcription factor 4; P: Passage; PM: Pluripotency markers; STRO-1: Stromal precursor antigen-1; SCP: Subculture potential; Sox-2: Sry-related HMG box gene 2; SSEA-4: Stage-specific embryonic antigen; TRA: Tumor rejection antigen.

A Survey and Critical Evaluation of Isolation, Culture, and Cryopreservation Methods of Human Amniotic Epithelial Cells

Human amniotic epithelial cells (hAECs), derived from an epithelial cell layer of the human amniotic membrane, possess embryonic stem-like properties and are known to maintain multilineage differentiation potential. Unfortunately, an inability to expand hAECs without significantly compromising their stem cell potency has precluded their widespread use for regenerative therapies. This article critically evaluates the methods used for isolation, expansion, and cryopreservation of hAECs. We assessed the impact of these methods on ex-vivo expansion and stem cell phenotype of hAECs. Moreover, the progress and challenges to optimize clinically suitable culture conditions for an efficient ex-vivo expansion and storage of these cells are highlighted. Additionally, we also reviewed the currently used hAECs isolation and characterization methods employed in clinical trials. Despite the developments made in the last decade, significant challenges still exist to overcome limitations of ex-vivo expansion and retention of stemness of hAECs in both xenogeneic and xenofree culture conditions. Therefore, optimization and standardization of culture conditions for robust ex-vivo maintenance of hAECs without affecting tissue regenerative properties is an absolute requirement for their successful therapeutic manipulation. This review may help the researchers to optimize the methods that support ex-vivo survival, proliferation, and self-renewal properties of the hAECs.Abbreviations: AM: Human amniotic membrane; CM-HBSS: Ca⁺⁺ and Mg⁺⁺ free HBSS; DMEM: Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium; DMEM-HG: DMEM-high glucose; EMEM: Eagle's Modified Essential Medium; EMT: Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition; EpM: Epi-life complete media; ESC: Embryonic stem cells; ESCM: Epithelial cell surface markers; hAECs: Human amniotic epithelial cells; HLA: Human leukocyte antigen; IM: Immunogenicity markers; iPSC: Induced pluripotent stem cells; KOSR; KSR: Knockout serum replacement; KSI: Key success indicators; CHM: Cell heterogeneity markers; Nanog: NANOG homeobox; Oct-4: Octamer binding transcription factor 4; OR: Operation room; P: Passage; PM: Pluripotency markers; SCM: Stem cell markers for non-differentiated cells; Sox-2: Sry-related HMG box gene 2; SSEA-4: Stage-specific embryonic antigen; TRA: Tumor rejection antigen; UC: Ultra-culture; XF: Xenogeneic free.

Regulation of Chemosensitivity in Human Medulloblastoma Cells by p53 and the PI3 Kinase Signaling Pathway

In medulloblastoma, p53 expression has been associated with chemoresistance and radiation resistance and with poor long-term outcomes in the p53-mutated sonic hedgehog, MYC-p53, and p53-positive medulloblastoma subgroups. We previously established a direct role for p53 in supporting drug resistance in medulloblastoma cells with high basal protein expression levels (D556 and DAOY). We now show that p53 genetic suppression in medulloblastoma cells with low basal p53 protein expression levels (D283 and UW228) significantly reduced drug responsiveness, suggesting opposing roles for low p53 protein expression levels. Mechanistically, the enhanced cell death by p53 knockdown in high-p53 cells was associated with an induction of mTOR/PI3K signaling. Both mTOR inhibition and p110α/PIK3CA induction confirmed these findings, which abrogated or accentuated the enhanced chemosensitivity response in D556 cells respectively while converse was seen in D283 cells. Co-treatment with G-actin-sequestering peptide, thymosin β4 (Tβ4), induced p-AKT^S473 in both p53-high and p53-low cells, enhancing chemosensitivity in D556 cells while enhancing chemoresistance in D283 and UW228 cells. IMPLICATIONS: Collectively, we identified an unexpected role for the PI3K signaling in enhancing cell death in medulloblastoma cells with high basal p53 expression. These studies indicate that levels of p53 immunopositivity may serve as a diagnostic marker of chemotherapy resistance and for defining therapeutic targeting.

Conditionally Reprogrammed Cells and Robotic High-Throughput Screening for Precision Cancer Therapy

Cancer is a devastating disease that takes the lives of millions of people globally every year. Precision cancer therapy is based on a patient's tumor histopathology, expression analyses, and/or tumor RNA or DNA analysis. Only 2%-20% of patients with solid tumors benefit from genomics-based precision oncology. Therefore, functional diagnostics and patient-derived cancer models are needed for precision cancer therapy. In this review, we will summarize the potential use of conditional cell reprogramming (CR) and robotic high-throughput screening in precision cancer medicine. Briefly, the CR method includes the co-culturing of irradiated Swiss-3T3-J2 mouse fibroblast cells alongside digested primary non-pathogenic or pathogenic cells with the existence of Rho-associated serine-threonine protein kinase inhibitor called Y-27632, creating an exterior culture environment, allowing the cells to have the ability to gain partial properties of stem cells. On the other hand, quantitative high-throughput screening (qHTS) assays screen thousands of compounds that use cells in a short period of time. The combination of both technologies has the potential to become a driving force for precision cancer therapy.

Predicting new drug indications for prostate cancer: The integration of an in silico proteochemometric network pharmacology platform with patient-derived primary prostate cells

BACKGROUND

Drug repurposing enables the discovery of potential cancer treatments using publically available data from over 4000 published Food and Drug Administration approved and experimental drugs. However, the ability to effectively evaluate the drug's efficacy remains a challenge. Impediments to broad applicability include inaccuracies in many of the computational drug-target algorithms and a lack of clinically relevant biologic modeling systems to validate the computational data for subsequent translation.

METHODS

We have integrated our computational proteochemometric systems network pharmacology platform, DrugGenEx-Net, with primary, continuous cultures of conditionally reprogrammed (CR) normal and prostate cancer (PCa) cells derived from treatment-naive patients with primary PCa.

RESULTS

Using the transcriptomic data from two matched pairs of benign and tumor-derived CR cells, we constructed drug networks to describe the biological perturbation associated with each prostate cell subtype at multiple levels of biological action. We prioritized the drugs by analyzing these networks for statistical coincidence with the drug action networks originating from known and predicted drug-protein targets. Prioritized drugs shared between the two patients' PCa cells included carfilzomib (CFZ), bortezomib (BTZ), sulforaphane, and phenethyl isothiocyanate. The effects of these compounds were then tested in the CR cells, in vitro. We observed that the IC50 values of the normal PCa CR cells for CFZ and BTZ were higher than their matched tumor CR cells. Transcriptomic analysis of CFZ-treated CR cells revealed that genes involved in cell proliferation, proteases, and downstream targets of serine proteases were inhibited while KLK7 and KLK8 were induced in the tumor-derived CR cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Given that the drugs in the database are extremely well-characterized and that the patient-derived cells are easily scalable for high throughput drug screening, this combined in vitro and in silico approach may significantly advance personalized PCa treatment and for other cancer applications.