Thymoquinone Crosstalks with DR5 to Sensitize TRAIL Resistance and Stimulate ROS-Mediated Cancer Apoptosis

Induction of breast cancer cell apoptosis by novel thiouracil-fused heterocyclic compounds through boosting of Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and DFT study

Breast cancer is a common public health disease causing mortality worldwide. Thus, providing novel chemotherapies that tackle breast cancer is of great interest. In this investigation, novel pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine derivatives 3,4,(6a-c),(8a,b),9-20 were synthesized and characterized using a variety of spectrum analyses. The geometric and thermal parameters of the novel thiouracil derivatives 3,4,6a,(8a,b),11,12,17,18, 19 were measured using density functional theory (DFT) via DFT/B3LYP/6-31 + G(d,p) basis set. All synthesized compounds were evaluated by MTT (3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-Diphenyltetrazolium Bromide) method using MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancerous cells, compound 17 had the maximum anticancer activity against both breast cancerous cells, recording the lowest half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values (56.712 μg/mL for MCF-7 cells and 48.743 μg/mL for MDA-MB-231 cells). The results were confirmed in terms of the intrinsic mechanism of apoptosis, where compound 17 had the highest percentage in the case of both cancer cells and recorded Bax (Bcl-2 associated X)/Bcl-2 (B-cell lymphoma 2) ratio 17.5 and 96.667 for MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells, while compound 19 came after 17 in the ability for induction of apoptosis, where the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio was 15.789 and 44.273 for both cancerous cells, respectively. Also, compound 11 recorded a high Bax/Bcl-2 ratio for both cells. The safety of the synthesized compounds was applied on normal WI-38 cells, showing minimum cytotoxic effect with undetectable IC50. Compounds 17, 11, and 19 recorded a significant increase of p53 upregulated modulator of apoptosis (PUMA) expression levels in the cancerous cells. The DFT method was also used to establish a connection between the experimentally determined values of the present investigated compounds and their predicted quantum chemical parameters. It was concluded that Compounds 17, 11, and 19 had anti-breast cancer potential through the induction of apoptotic Bax/Bcl-2 and PUMA expression levels.

Thymoquinone-protoflavone hybrid molecules as potential antitumor agents

We describe herein the synthesis of eight new ester-coupled hybrid compounds from thymoquinone and protoflavone building blocks, and their bioactivity testing against multiple cancer cell lines. Among the hybrids, compound 14 showed promising activities in all cell lines studied. The highest activities were recorded against breast cancer cell lines with higher selectivity to MDA-MB-231 as compared to MCF-7. Even though the hybrids were found to be completely hydrolysed in 24 h under cell culture conditions, compound 14 demonstrated a ca. three times stronger activity against U-87 glioblastoma cells than a 1:1 mixture of its fragments. Further, compound 14 showed good tumour selectivity: it acted 4.4-times stronger on U-87 cells than on MRC-5 fibroblasts. This selectivity was much lower, only ca. 1.3-times, when the cells were co-treated with a 1:1 mixture of its non-coupled fragments. Protoflavone-thymoquinone hybrids may therefore serve as potential new antitumor leads particularly against glioblastoma.

Hyaluronated nanoparticles deliver raloxifene to CD44-expressed colon cancer cells and regulate lncRNAs/miRNAs epigenetic cascade

Background

Colorectal malignant cells (CRC) are one of the world’s main causes of cancer mortality and morbidity. Notwithstanding the plenty of anti-CRC therapeutics, its prognosis remains not selective owing to cancer resistance to these therapeutics. Raloxifene (RX), a medication firstly used to treat osteoporosis, was recently licenced for the prevention of CRC. Unfortunately, due to medication resistance, many RX-based therapies are likely to become ineffective. Recently, we identified a novel method of administration to lengthen the half-life of RX by mixing it with chitosan (CS) and hyaluronic acid (HA). Thus, the rationale of the current study was to investigate how colon cancer cells were affected by RX-HA-CS nanoparticles (RX NPs) in terms of targetability, cytotoxicity, and epigenetic cascade alteration.

Results

RX NP had an entrapment efficiency (EE%) of 90.0 ± 8.12%. Compared to HCT 116 cells, Caco-2 cells were more susceptible to the cytotoxic effects of RX and its NP as well as they had a higher binding affinity to CD44 receptors compared to normal WI-38 cells. In comparison to the free RX, the RX NP’s cytotoxic fold changes in HCT 116 and Caco-2 cells were 2.16 and 2.52, respectively. Furthermore, the epigenetic cascade of some noncoding RNAs was examined. Moreover, particular protein concentrations were investigated in all tested cells after application of the proposed therapies. Our results showed that the RX NP recorded higher remarkable cytotoxic impact on CRC cells compared to the free RX. Intriguingly, it was hypothesized that RX nanoparticles attacked colon cancerous cells by up-regulating miR-944 and E-cadherin (ECN) expressions, while down-regulating the expressions of PPARγ, YKL-40, VEGF, H-19, LINC00641, HULC, HOTTIP, miR-92a, miR-200, and miR-21.

Conclusions

We may conclude that the RX NP effectively targets CRC cells in vitro via altering lncRNAs and miRNAs epigenetic cascade as well as cellular uptake through CD44-expressed CRC cells.

Targeting PI3K/Akt signaling in prostate cancer therapy

Urological cancers have obtained much attention in recent years due to their mortality and morbidity. The most common and malignant tumor of urological cancers is prostate cancer that imposes high socioeconomic costs on public life and androgen-deprivation therapy, surgery, and combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy are employed in its treatment. PI3K/Akt signaling is an oncogenic pathway responsible for migration, proliferation and drug resistance in various cancers. In the present review, the role of PI3K/Akt signaling in prostate cancer progression is highlighted. The activation of PI3K/Akt signaling occurs in prostate cancer, while PTEN as inhibitor of PI3K/Akt shows down-regulation. Stimulation of PI3K/Akt signaling promotes survival of prostate tumor cells and prevents apoptosis. The cell cycle progression and proliferation rate of prostate tumor cells increase by PI3K/Akt signaling induction. PI3K/Akt signaling stimulates EMT and enhances metastasis of prostate tumor cells. Silencing PI3K/Akt signaling impairs growth and metastasis of prostate tumor cells. Activation of PI3K/Akt signaling mediates drug resistance and reduces radio-sensitivity of prostate tumor cells. Anti-tumor compounds suppress PI3K/Akt signaling in impairing prostate tumor progression. Furthermore, upstream regulators such as miRNAs, lncRNAs and circRNAs regulate PI3K/Akt signaling and it has clinical implications for prostate cancer patients.