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Povo-Retana A, Landauro-Vera R, Alvarez-Lucena C, Cascante M, Boscá L. Trabectedin and Lurbinectedin Modulate the Interplay between Cells in the Tumour Microenvironment-Progresses in Their Use in Combined Cancer Therapy. Molecules 2024; 29:331. [PMID: 38257245 PMCID: PMC10820391 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29020331] [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: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 12/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Trabectedin (TRB) and Lurbinectedin (LUR) are alkaloid compounds originally isolated from Ecteinascidia turbinata with proven antitumoral activity. Both molecules are structural analogues that differ on the tetrahydroisoquinoline moiety of the C subunit in TRB, which is replaced by a tetrahydro-β-carboline in LUR. TRB is indicated for patients with relapsed ovarian cancer in combination with pegylated liposomal doxorubicin, as well as for advanced soft tissue sarcoma in adults in monotherapy. LUR was approved by the FDA in 2020 to treat metastatic small cell lung cancer. Herein, we systematically summarise the origin and structure of TRB and LUR, as well as the molecular mechanisms that they trigger to induce cell death in tumoral cells and supporting stroma cells of the tumoral microenvironment, and how these compounds regulate immune cell function and fate. Finally, the novel therapeutic venues that are currently under exploration, in combination with a plethora of different immunotherapeutic strategies or specific molecular-targeted inhibitors, are reviewed, with particular emphasis on the usage of immune checkpoint inhibitors, or other bioactive molecules that have shown synergistic effects in terms of tumour regression and ablation. These approaches intend to tackle the complexity of managing cancer patients in the context of precision medicine and the application of tailor-made strategies aiming at the reduction of undesired side effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrián Povo-Retana
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas Alberto Sols-Morreale (CSIC-UAM), Arturo Duperier 4, 28029 Madrid, Spain; (R.L.-V.); (C.A.-L.)
| | - Rodrigo Landauro-Vera
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas Alberto Sols-Morreale (CSIC-UAM), Arturo Duperier 4, 28029 Madrid, Spain; (R.L.-V.); (C.A.-L.)
| | - Carlota Alvarez-Lucena
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas Alberto Sols-Morreale (CSIC-UAM), Arturo Duperier 4, 28029 Madrid, Spain; (R.L.-V.); (C.A.-L.)
| | - Marta Cascante
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biomedicine-Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), Faculty of Biology, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain;
- Department of Material Science and Physical Chemistry, Research Institute of Theoretical and Computational Chemistry (IQTCUB), University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Lisardo Boscá
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas Alberto Sols-Morreale (CSIC-UAM), Arturo Duperier 4, 28029 Madrid, Spain; (R.L.-V.); (C.A.-L.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (CIBERCV), Institute of Health Carlos III (ISCIII), 28029 Madrid, Spain
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Musacchio L, Cicala CM, Salutari V, Camarda F, Carbone MV, Ghizzoni V, Giudice E, Nero C, Perri MT, Ricci C, Tronconi F, Scambia G, Lorusso D. Preclinical and Clinical Evidence of Lurbinectedin in Ovarian Cancer: Current Status and Future Perspectives. Front Oncol 2022; 12:831612. [PMID: 35280728 PMCID: PMC8904915 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.831612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [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: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Lurbinectedin is an antitumor agent belonging to the natural marine-based tetrahydroisoquinoline family which has shown very promising clinical activity with a favorable safety profile in many types of cancer. Preclinical evidence showed that lurbinectedin inhibits active transcription and binds to GC-rich sequences, leading to irreversible degradation of RNA polymerase II and generation of single- and double-strand DNA breaks and, as a consequence, apoptosis of tumor cells. In addition, lurbinectedin has demonstrated modulation of the tumor microenvironment and activity against cancer cells harboring homologous recombination DNA repair deficiency. Although considerable improvements have been made in the treatment of epithelial ovarian cancer, most patients with advanced disease experience recurrence with a dismal prognosis due to chemotherapy (mainly platinum) resistance. Platinum-resistant/refractory ovarian cancer remains a difficult-to-treat setting of disease, and currently, the exploration of new therapeutic approaches represents a main field of interest. Although the CORAIL phase III study did not meet its primary endpoint, the results suggest that lurbinectedin might be a valid alternative for patients that have exhausted therapeutic options. This article will focus on the clinical evidence, the most recent investigations, and the future perspective regarding the use of lurbinectedin in ovarian cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Musacchio
- Department of Women and Child Health, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Carlo Maria Cicala
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Agostino Gemelli University Polyclinic (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Vanda Salutari
- Department of Women and Child Health, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Floriana Camarda
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Agostino Gemelli University Polyclinic (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Vittoria Carbone
- Department of Women and Child Health, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Viola Ghizzoni
- Department of Women and Child Health, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Elena Giudice
- Department of Women and Child Health, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Camilla Nero
- Department of Women and Child Health, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Teresa Perri
- Department of Women and Child Health, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Caterina Ricci
- Department of Women and Child Health, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Giovanni Scambia
- Department of Women and Child Health, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy.,Department of Life Science and Public Health, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - Domenica Lorusso
- Department of Women and Child Health, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy.,Department of Life Science and Public Health, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
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