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Zhu L, Yang K, Ren Z, Yin D, Zhou Y. Metformin as anticancer agent and adjuvant in cancer combination therapy: Current progress and future prospect. Transl Oncol 2024; 44:101945. [PMID: 38555742 PMCID: PMC10998183 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2024.101945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Metformin, as the preferred antihyperglycemic drug for type 2 diabetes, has been found to have a significant effect in inhibiting tumor growth in recent years. However, metformin alone in cancer treatment has the disadvantages of high dose concentrations and few targeted cancer types. Increasing studies have confirmed that metformin can be used in combination with conventional anticancer therapy to obtain more promising clinical benefits, which is expected to be rapidly transformed and applied in clinic. Some combination therapy strategies including metformin combined with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy have been proven to have more significant antitumor effects and longer survival time than monotherapy. In this review, we summarize the synergistic antitumor effects and mechanisms of metformin in combination with other current conventional anticancer therapies. In addition, we update the research progress and the latest prospect of the metformin-combined application in the cancer treatment. This work could provide more evidence and future direction for the clinical application of metformin in antitumor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Zhu
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, Henan, PR China
| | - Kaiqing Yang
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, Henan, PR China
| | - Zhe Ren
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, Henan, PR China
| | - Detao Yin
- Department of Thyroid Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, Henan, PR China.
| | - Yubing Zhou
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, Henan, PR China.
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2
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Markowska A, Kojs Z, Twardawa D, Pietras J, Markowska J. Selected markers of ovarian cancer and their relation to targeted therapy (Review). Exp Ther Med 2024; 27:236. [PMID: 38628658 PMCID: PMC11019661 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2024.12523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite advances in surgical treatment techniques and chemotherapy-including anti-angiogenic and immune poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors, the 5-year survival rate in ovarian cancer (OC) remains low. The reasons for this are the diagnosis of cancer in advanced clinical stages, chemoresistance and cancer recurrence. New therapeutic approaches are being developed, including the search for new biomarkers that are also targets for targeted therapy. The present review describes new molecular markers with relevance to targeted therapy, which to date have been studied only in experimental research. These include the angiogenic protein angiopoietin-2, the transmembrane glycoprotein ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase 1, the adhesion protein E-cadherin, the TIMP metallopeptidase inhibitor 1 and Kruppel-like factor 7. Drugs affecting cancer stem cells (CSCs) in OC, such as metformin and salinomycin, as well as inhibitors of CSCs markers aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (with the drug ATRA) and the transcription factor Nanog homeobox (microRNA) are also discussed. A new approach to prevention and possible therapies under investigation such as development of vaccines containing a subpopulation of CD117(+) and CD44(+) stem cells with a promising option for use in women with OC was described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Markowska
- Department of Perinatology and Women's Diseases, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-535 Poznan, Poland
| | - Zbigniew Kojs
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics with Gynecologic Oncology, Ludwik Rydygier Memorial Specialized Hospital, 31-826 Kraków, Poland
| | - Damian Twardawa
- Medical Department, Bausch Health Poland, 02-674 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Joanna Pietras
- Department of Perinatology and Women's Diseases, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-535 Poznan, Poland
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Almeida-Nunes DL, Silvestre R, Dinis-Oliveira RJ, Ricardo S. Enhancing Immunotherapy in Ovarian Cancer: The Emerging Role of Metformin and Statins. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 25:323. [PMID: 38203494 PMCID: PMC10779012 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25010323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Ovarian cancer metastization is accompanied by the development of malignant ascites, which are associated with poor prognosis. The acellular fraction of this ascitic fluid contains tumor-promoting soluble factors, bioactive lipids, cytokines, and extracellular vesicles, all of which communicate with the tumor cells within this peritoneal fluid. Metabolomic profiling of ovarian cancer ascites has revealed significant differences in the pathways of fatty acids, cholesterol, glucose, and insulin. The proteins involved in these pathways promote tumor growth, resistance to chemotherapy, and immune evasion. Unveiling the key role of this liquid tumor microenvironment is crucial for discovering more efficient treatment options. This review focuses on the cholesterol and insulin pathways in ovarian cancer, identifying statins and metformin as viable treatment options when combined with standard chemotherapy. These findings are supported by clinical trials showing improved overall survival with these combinations. Additionally, statins and metformin are associated with the reversal of T-cell exhaustion, positioning these drugs as potential combinatory strategies to improve immunotherapy outcomes in ovarian cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Luísa Almeida-Nunes
- Differentiation and Cancer Group, Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (i3S) of the University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal;
- 1H-TOXRUN—One Health Toxicology Research Unit, University Institute of Health Sciences, CESPU, CRL, 4585-116 Gandra, Portugal;
| | - Ricardo Silvestre
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal;
- ICVS/3B’s—PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Ricardo Jorge Dinis-Oliveira
- 1H-TOXRUN—One Health Toxicology Research Unit, University Institute of Health Sciences, CESPU, CRL, 4585-116 Gandra, Portugal;
- UCIBIO-REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
- Department of Public Health and Forensic Sciences, and Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
- FOREN—Forensic Science Experts, 1400-136 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Sara Ricardo
- Differentiation and Cancer Group, Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (i3S) of the University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal;
- 1H-TOXRUN—One Health Toxicology Research Unit, University Institute of Health Sciences, CESPU, CRL, 4585-116 Gandra, Portugal;
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
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Hua Y, Zheng Y, Yao Y, Jia R, Ge S, Zhuang A. Metformin and cancer hallmarks: shedding new lights on therapeutic repurposing. J Transl Med 2023; 21:403. [PMID: 37344841 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-023-04263-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Metformin is a well-known anti-diabetic drug that has been repurposed for several emerging applications, including as an anti-cancer agent. It boasts the distinct advantages of an excellent safety and tolerability profile and high cost-effectiveness at less than one US dollar per daily dose. Epidemiological evidence reveals that metformin reduces the risk of cancer and decreases cancer-related mortality in patients with diabetes; however, the exact mechanisms are not well understood. Energy metabolism may be central to the mechanism of action. Based on altering whole-body energy metabolism or cellular state, metformin's modes of action can be divided into two broad, non-mutually exclusive categories: "direct effects", which induce a direct effect on cancer cells, independent of blood glucose and insulin levels, and "indirect effects" that arise from systemic metabolic changes depending on blood glucose and insulin levels. In this review, we summarize an updated account of the current knowledge on metformin antitumor action, elaborate on the underlying mechanisms in terms of the hallmarks of cancer, and propose potential applications for repurposing metformin for cancer therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Hua
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 639 Zhizaoju Road, Shanghai, 200011, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, No. 639 Zhizaoju Road, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - Yue Zheng
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 639 Zhizaoju Road, Shanghai, 200011, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, No. 639 Zhizaoju Road, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - Yiran Yao
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 639 Zhizaoju Road, Shanghai, 200011, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, No. 639 Zhizaoju Road, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - Renbing Jia
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 639 Zhizaoju Road, Shanghai, 200011, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, No. 639 Zhizaoju Road, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - Shengfang Ge
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 639 Zhizaoju Road, Shanghai, 200011, China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, No. 639 Zhizaoju Road, Shanghai, 200011, China.
| | - Ai Zhuang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 639 Zhizaoju Road, Shanghai, 200011, China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, No. 639 Zhizaoju Road, Shanghai, 200011, China.
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Ohno M, Kitanaka C, Miyakita Y, Tanaka S, Sonoda Y, Mishima K, Ishikawa E, Takahashi M, Yanagisawa S, Ohashi K, Nagane M, Narita Y. Metformin with Temozolomide for Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma: Results of Phase I Study and a Brief Review of Relevant Studies. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14174222. [PMID: 36077758 PMCID: PMC9454846 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14174222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) inevitably recurs due to a resistance to current standard therapy. We showed that the antidiabetic drug metformin (MF) can induce the differentiation of stem-like glioma-initiating cells and suppress tumor formation through AMPK-FOXO3 activation. In this study, we design a phase I/II study to examine the clinical effect of MF. We aim to determine a recommended phase II MF dose with maintenance temozolomide (TMZ) in patients with newly diagnosed GBM who completed standard concomitant radiotherapy and TMZ. MF dose-escalation was planned using a 3 + 3 design. Dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) were assessed during the first six weeks after MF initiation. Three patients were treated with 1500 mg/day MF and four patients were treated with 2250 mg/day MF between February 2021 and January 2022. No DLTs were observed. The most common adverse effects were appetite loss, nausea, and diarrhea, all of which were manageable. Two patients experienced tumor progression at 6.0 and 6.1 months, and one died 12.2 months after initial surgery. The other five patients remained stable at the last follow-up session. The MF dose of up to 2250 mg/day combined with maintenance TMZ appeared to be well tolerated, and we proceeded to a phase II study with 2250 mg/day MF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Makoto Ohno
- Department of Neurosurgery and Neuro-Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan
| | - Chifumi Kitanaka
- Department of Molecular Cancer Science, Faculty of Medicine, Yamagata University, Yamagata 990-9585, Japan
| | - Yasuji Miyakita
- Department of Neurosurgery and Neuro-Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan
| | - Shota Tanaka
- Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan
| | - Yukihiko Sonoda
- Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, Yamagata University, Yamagata 990-9585, Japan
| | - Kazuhiko Mishima
- Department of Neuro-Oncology/Neurosurgery, International Medical Center, Saitama Medical University, Hidaka 350-1298, Japan
| | - Eiichi Ishikawa
- Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 350-8576, Japan
| | - Masamichi Takahashi
- Department of Neurosurgery and Neuro-Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan
| | - Shunsuke Yanagisawa
- Department of Neurosurgery and Neuro-Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan
| | - Ken Ohashi
- Department of General Internal Medicine, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan
| | - Motoo Nagane
- Department of Neurosurgery, Kyorin University Faculty of Medicine, Mitaka 181-8611, Japan
| | - Yoshitaka Narita
- Department of Neurosurgery and Neuro-Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-3-3542-2511
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Skuli SJ, Alomari S, Gaitsch H, Bakayoko A, Skuli N, Tyler BM. Metformin and Cancer, an Ambiguanidous Relationship. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15. [PMID: 35631452 DOI: 10.3390/ph15050626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The deregulation of energetic and cellular metabolism is a signature of cancer cells. Thus, drugs targeting cancer cell metabolism may have promising therapeutic potential. Previous reports demonstrate that the widely used normoglycemic agent, metformin, can decrease the risk of cancer in type 2 diabetics and inhibit cell growth in various cancers, including pancreatic, colon, prostate, ovarian, and breast cancer. While metformin is a known adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) agonist and an inhibitor of the electron transport chain complex I, its mechanism of action in cancer cells as well as its effect on cancer metabolism is not clearly established. In this review, we will give an update on the role of metformin as an antitumoral agent and detail relevant evidence on the potential use and mechanisms of action of metformin in cancer. Analyzing antitumoral, signaling, and metabolic impacts of metformin on cancer cells may provide promising new therapeutic strategies in oncology.
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Johnson RL, Cummings M, Thangavelu A, Theophilou G, de Jong D, Orsi NM. Barriers to Immunotherapy in Ovarian Cancer: Metabolic, Genomic, and Immune Perturbations in the Tumour Microenvironment. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:6231. [PMID: 34944851 PMCID: PMC8699358 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13246231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
A lack of explicit early clinical signs and effective screening measures mean that ovarian cancer (OC) often presents as advanced, incurable disease. While conventional treatment combines maximal cytoreductive surgery and platinum-based chemotherapy, patients frequently develop chemoresistance and disease recurrence. The clinical application of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) aims to restore anti-cancer T-cell function in the tumour microenvironment (TME). Disappointingly, even though tumour infiltrating lymphocytes are associated with superior survival in OC, ICB has offered limited therapeutic benefits. Herein, we discuss specific TME features that prevent ICB from reaching its full potential, focussing in particular on the challenges created by immune, genomic and metabolic alterations. We explore both recent and current therapeutic strategies aiming to overcome these hurdles, including the synergistic effect of combination treatments with immune-based strategies and review the status quo of current clinical trials aiming to maximise the success of immunotherapy in OC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Racheal Louise Johnson
- Department Gynaecological Oncology, St. James’s University Hospital, Leeds LS9 7TF, UK; (A.T.); (G.T.); (D.d.J.)
| | - Michele Cummings
- Leeds Institute of Medical Research, St. James’s University Hospital, Leeds LS9 7TF, UK; (M.C.); (N.M.O.)
| | - Amudha Thangavelu
- Department Gynaecological Oncology, St. James’s University Hospital, Leeds LS9 7TF, UK; (A.T.); (G.T.); (D.d.J.)
| | - Georgios Theophilou
- Department Gynaecological Oncology, St. James’s University Hospital, Leeds LS9 7TF, UK; (A.T.); (G.T.); (D.d.J.)
| | - Diederick de Jong
- Department Gynaecological Oncology, St. James’s University Hospital, Leeds LS9 7TF, UK; (A.T.); (G.T.); (D.d.J.)
| | - Nicolas Michel Orsi
- Leeds Institute of Medical Research, St. James’s University Hospital, Leeds LS9 7TF, UK; (M.C.); (N.M.O.)
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Lin W, Yan Y, Ping S, Li P, Li D, Hu J, Liu W, Wen X, Ren Y. Metformin-Induced Epigenetic Toxicity in Zebrafish: Experimental and Molecular Dynamics Simulation Studies. Environ Sci Technol 2021; 55:1672-1681. [PMID: 33332093 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c06052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
The increased detection of many prescription drugs in aquatic environments has heightened concerns of their potential ecotoxicological effects. In this study, the effects of metformin (MEF) exposure on tissue accumulation, gene expression, and global DNA methylation (GDM) in zebrafish were investigated. The toxic mechanism of MEF exposure was simulated by molecular dynamics (MD) to reveal any conformational changes to DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1). The results showed MEF accumulation in the gills, gut, and liver of zebrafish after 30 days of exposure, and the bioaccumulation capacity was in the order of gut > liver > gills. After a 30 day recovery period, MEF could still be detected in zebrafish tissues in groups exposed to MEF concentrations ≥ 10 μg/L. Moreover, the liver was the main site of GDM, and the restoration of GDM in the liver was slower than that in the gut and gills during the recovery period. Furthermore, MEF could induce the abnormal expression of CYP3A65, GSTM1, p53, and DNMT1 genes in the liver due to the formation of hydrogen bonds between MEF and the protein residues of those genes. The MD simulation allowed for the mechanistic determination of MEF-induced three-dimensional (3D) conformational changes and changes to the catalytic activity of DNMT1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenting Lin
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, P. R. China
| | - Yuanyang Yan
- School of Chemical and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, P. R. China
| | - Senwen Ping
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, P. R. China
| | - Ping Li
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, P. R. China
| | - Diandi Li
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, P. R. China
| | - Junjie Hu
- School of Environment and Civil Engineering, Dongguan University of Technology, Dongguan 523808, P. R. China
| | - Wei Liu
- School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, P. R. China
| | - Xiufang Wen
- School of Chemical and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, P. R. China
| | - Yuan Ren
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, P. R. China
- The Key Lab of Pollution Control and Ecosystem Restoration in Industry Clusters, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou 510006, China
- The Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Eco-Remediation of Guangdong Regular Higher Education Institutions, Guangzhou 510006, China
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Kosowska A, Garczorz W, Kłych-Ratuszny A, Aghdam MRF, Kimsa-Furdzik M, Simka-Lampa K, Francuz T. Sitagliptin Modulates the Response of Ovarian Cancer Cells to Chemotherapeutic Agents. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E8976. [PMID: 33256016 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21238976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Revised: 11/20/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The strong association between diabetes mellitus type 2 and cancer is observed. The incidence of both diseases is increasing globally due to the interaction between them. Recent studies suggest that there is also an association between cancer incidence and anti-diabetic medications. An inhibitor of dipeptidyl-peptidase 4 (DPP-4), sitagliptin, is used in diabetes treatment. We examined the influence of sitagliptin alone or in combination with a cytostatic drug (paclitaxel) on the development of epithelial ovarian cancer cells and the process of metastasis. We examined migration, invasiveness, apoptosis, and metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their inhibitors’ (TIMPs) production in two human ovarian cancer cell lines. Sitagliptin induced apoptosis by caspase 3/7 activation in paclitaxel-treated SKOV-3 and OVCAR-3 cells. Sitagliptin maintained paclitaxel influence on ERK and Akt signaling pathways. Sitagliptin additionally reduced migration and invasiveness of SKOV-3 cells. There were distinct differences of metalloproteinases production in sitagliptin-stimulated ovarian cancer cells in both cell lines, despite their identical histological classification. Only the SKOV-3 cell line expressed MMPs and TIMPs. SKOV-3 cells co-treated with sitagliptin and paclitaxel decreased concentrations of MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-7, MMP-10, TIMP-1, TIMP-2. The obtained data showed that sitagliptin used with paclitaxel may be considered as a possibility of pharmacological modulation of intracellular transmission pathways to improve the response to chemotherapy.
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Nunes M, Henriques Abreu M, Bartosch C, Ricardo S. Recycling the Purpose of Old Drugs to Treat Ovarian Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21207768. [PMID: 33092251 PMCID: PMC7656306 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21207768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Revised: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 10/17/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The main challenge in ovarian cancer treatment is the management of recurrences. Facing this scenario, therapy selection is based on multiple factors to define the best treatment sequence. Target therapies, such as bevacizumab and polymerase (PARP) inhibitors, improved patient survival. However, despite their achievements, ovarian cancer survival remains poor; these therapeutic options are highly costly and can be associated with potential side effects. Recently, it has been shown that the combination of repurposed, conventional, chemotherapeutic drugs could be an alternative, presenting good patient outcomes with few side effects and low costs for healthcare institutions. The main aim of this review is to strengthen the importance of repurposed drugs as therapeutic alternatives, and to propose an in vitro model to assess the therapeutic value. Herein, we compiled the current knowledge on the most promising non-oncological drugs for ovarian cancer treatment, focusing on statins, metformin, bisphosphonates, ivermectin, itraconazole, and ritonavir. We discuss the primary drug use, anticancer mechanisms, and applicability in ovarian cancer. Finally, we propose the use of these therapies to perform drug efficacy tests in ovarian cancer ex vivo cultures. This personalized testing approach could be crucial to validate the existing evidences supporting the use of repurposed drugs for ovarian cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Nunes
- Differentiation and Cancer Group, Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (i3S) of the University of Porto/Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (Ipatimup), 4200-135 Porto, Portugal;
- Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (PCCC), 4200-162 Porto, Portugal; (M.H.A.); (C.B.)
| | - Miguel Henriques Abreu
- Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (PCCC), 4200-162 Porto, Portugal; (M.H.A.); (C.B.)
- Department of Medical Oncology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPOP), 4200-162 Porto, Portugal
| | - Carla Bartosch
- Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (PCCC), 4200-162 Porto, Portugal; (M.H.A.); (C.B.)
- Department of Pathology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPOP), 4200-162 Porto, Portugal
- Cancer Biology & Epigenetics Group, Research Center—Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (CI-IPOP), 4200-162 Porto, Portugal
| | - Sara Ricardo
- Differentiation and Cancer Group, Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (i3S) of the University of Porto/Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (Ipatimup), 4200-135 Porto, Portugal;
- Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (PCCC), 4200-162 Porto, Portugal; (M.H.A.); (C.B.)
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
- Department of Sciences, University Institute of Health Sciences (IUCS), CESPU, CRL, 4585-116 Gandra, Portugal
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +351-225-570-700
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