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Betson N, Hajahmed M, Gebretsadek T, Ndebele K, Ahmad HA, Tchounwou PB, Spiegelman VS, Noubissi FK. Inhibition of insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein 1 sensitizes colorectal cancer cells to chemotherapeutics. FASEB Bioadv 2022; 4:816-829. [PMID: 36479210 PMCID: PMC9721091 DOI: 10.1096/fba.2021-00069] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2021] [Revised: 09/03/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 10/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Although colorectal cancer (CRC) treatment has seen a remarkable improvement in the recent years, many patients will develop metastasis due to the resistance of cancer cells to chemotherapeutics. Targeting mechanisms driving the resistance of CRC cells to treatment would significantly reduce cases of metastasis and death. Induction of insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein 1 (IGF2BP1), a direct target of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, might promote resistance of CRC cells to treatment via activation of anti-apoptotic pathways and induction of the multidrug resistance (MDR1) membrane transporter that pumps drugs out of the cells. We hypothesized that inhibition of IGF2BP1 will sensitize CRC cells to chemotherapeutics. We used CRC cell lines with different status of activation of Wnt signaling to show that inhibition of IGF2BP1 potentiates the anti-growth and anti-proliferative effects of chemotherapeutics on CRC cells with activated Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. We observed that the inhibition of IGF2BP1 significantly increases apoptosis in the same cells. A remarkable reduction in the migratory capability of those cells was noted as well. We found that inhibition of IGF2BP1 is sufficient to decrease the resistance of chemotherapy-resistant cancer cells with activated Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. These findings portray IGF2BP1 as a good candidate for CRC therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Betson
- Department of BiologyJackson State UniversityJacksonMississippiUSA
| | | | | | - Kenneth Ndebele
- Department of BiologyJackson State UniversityJacksonMississippiUSA
| | - H. Anwar Ahmad
- Department of BiologyJackson State UniversityJacksonMississippiUSA
- Research Centers in Minority Institutions (RCMI), Center for Health Disparity Research (RCMI‐CHDR)Jackson State UniversityJacksonMississippiUSA
| | - Paul B. Tchounwou
- Department of BiologyJackson State UniversityJacksonMississippiUSA
- Research Centers in Minority Institutions (RCMI), Center for Health Disparity Research (RCMI‐CHDR)Jackson State UniversityJacksonMississippiUSA
| | - Vladimir S. Spiegelman
- Division of Pediatric Hematology/OncologyPennsylvania State University, Hershey Medical CenterHersheyPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Felicite K. Noubissi
- Department of BiologyJackson State UniversityJacksonMississippiUSA
- Research Centers in Minority Institutions (RCMI), Center for Health Disparity Research (RCMI‐CHDR)Jackson State UniversityJacksonMississippiUSA
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Therachiyil L, Hussein OJ, Uddin S, Korashy HM. Regulation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor in cancer and cancer stem cells of gynecological malignancies: An update on signaling pathways. Semin Cancer Biol 2022; 86:1186-1202. [PMID: 36252938 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2022.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Gynecological malignancies are a female type of cancers that affects the reproductive system. Cancer metastasis or recurrence mediated by cellular invasiveness occurs at advanced stages of cancer progression. Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs) enrichment in tumors leads to chemoresistance, which results in cancer mortality. Exposure to environmental pollutants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons is associated with an increased the risk of CSC enrichment in gynecological cancers. One of the important pathways that mediates the metabolism and bioactivation of these environmental chemicals is the transcription factor, aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). The present review explores the molecular mechanisms regulating the crosstalk and interaction of the AhR with cancer-related signaling pathways, such as apoptosis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, immune checkpoints, and G-protein-coupled receptors in several gynecological malignancies such as ovarian, uterine, endometrial, and cervical cancers. The review also discusses the potential of targeting the AhR pathway as a novel chemotherapy for gynecological cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lubna Therachiyil
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar; Translational Research Institute, Academic Health System, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
| | - Ola J Hussein
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
| | - Shahab Uddin
- Translational Research Institute, Academic Health System, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar; Dermatology Institute, Academic Health System, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
| | - Hesham M Korashy
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
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Takao T, Masuda H, Kajitani T, Miki F, Miyazaki K, Yoshimasa Y, Katakura S, Tomisato S, Uchida S, Uchida H, Tanaka M, Maruyama T. Sorafenib targets and inhibits the oncogenic properties of endometrial cancer stem cells via the RAF/ERK pathway. Stem Cell Res Ther 2022; 13:225. [PMID: 35659728 PMCID: PMC9166406 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-022-02888-y] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Distinct subsets of cancer stem cells (CSCs) drive the initiation and progression of malignant tumors via enhanced self-renewal and development of treatment/apoptosis resistance. Endometrial CSC-selective drugs have not been successfully developed because most endometrial cell lines do not contain a sufficient proportion of stable CSCs. Here, we aimed to identify endometrial CSC-containing cell lines and to search for endometrial CSC-selective drugs.
Methods We first assessed the presence of CSCs by identifying side populations (SPs) in several endometrial cancer cell lines. We then characterized cell viability, colony-formation, transwell invasion and xenotransplantion capability using the isolated SP cells. We also conducted real-time RT-PCR, immunoblot and immunofluorescence analyses of the cells’ expression of CSC-associated markers. Focusing on 14 putative CSC-selective drugs, we characterized their effects on the proliferation and apoptosis of endometrial cancer cell lines, examining cell viability and annexin V staining. We further examined the inhibitory effects of the selected drugs, focusing on proliferation, invasion, expression of CSC-associated markers and tumor formation. Results We focused on HHUA cells, an endometrial cancer cell line derived from a well-differentiated endometrial adenocarcinoma. HHUA cells contained a sufficient proportion of stable CSCs with an SP phenotype (HHUA-SP). HHUA-SP showed greater proliferation, colony-formation, and invasive capabilities compared with the main population of HHUA cells (HHUA-MP). HHUA-SP generated larger tumors with higher expression of proliferation-related markers, Ki67, c-MYC and phosphorylated ERK compared with HHUA-MP when transplanted into immunodeficient mice. Among the 14 candidate drugs, sorafenib, an inhibitor of RAF pathways and multiple kinase receptors, inhibited cell proliferation and invasion in both HHUA-SP and -MP, but more profoundly in HHUA-SP. In vivo treatment with sorafenib for 4 weeks reduced the weights of HHUA-SP-derived tumors and decreased the expression of Ki67, ZEB1, and RAF1. Conclusions Our results suggest that HHUA is a useful cell line for discovery and identification of endometrial CSC-selective drugs, and that sorafenib may be an effective anti-endometrial cancer drug targeting endometrial CSCs. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13287-022-02888-y.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomoka Takao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35, Shinanomachi, Shinjukuku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan.,Department of Regenerative Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 2-5-1, Shikatacho, Kitaku, Okayama, 700-8558, Japan
| | - Hirotaka Masuda
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35, Shinanomachi, Shinjukuku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Takashi Kajitani
- Sakura No Seibo Junior College, 3-6, Hanazonocho, Fukushima, 960-8585, Japan
| | - Fumie Miki
- Sho Hospital, 1-41-14, Itabashi, Tokyo, 173-0004, Japan
| | - Kaoru Miyazaki
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35, Shinanomachi, Shinjukuku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Yushi Yoshimasa
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35, Shinanomachi, Shinjukuku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Satomi Katakura
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35, Shinanomachi, Shinjukuku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Shoko Tomisato
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35, Shinanomachi, Shinjukuku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Sayaka Uchida
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35, Shinanomachi, Shinjukuku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Uchida
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35, Shinanomachi, Shinjukuku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Mamoru Tanaka
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35, Shinanomachi, Shinjukuku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Tetsuo Maruyama
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35, Shinanomachi, Shinjukuku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan.
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Abstract
Autophagy, meaning “self-eating,” is a cellular catabolic process that involves lysosomal degradation of cytoplasmic materials. Autophagy contributes to both quality control and energy supply of cells, which are associated with tumorigenesis and tumor development, respectively. Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most common gynecologic cancer, and its incidence is increasing. Although autophagy plays crucial roles in several types of cancer, such as pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, its role in EC has not been clearly demonstrated. Activation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, which functions to suppress autophagy, is an initial step in type 1 endometrial carcinogenesis, whereas a loss-of-function mutation of TP53, which augments autophagy via p16 induction, is the main cause of type 2 endometrial carcinogenesis. Mutations in autophagy-related genes, including ATG4C, RB1CC1/FIP200, and ULK4, have been reported in EC; thus, an aberrant autophagy mechanism may be involved in endometrial carcinogenesis. Furthermore, the biguanide diabetes drug metformin, treatment with which enhances autophagy via AMPK-mediated mTOR inactivation, has been reported to reduce the risk of EC. These findings suggest that autophagy negatively regulates endometrial carcinogenesis, and autophagy inducers may be useful for chemoprevention of EC. In contrast, autophagy appears to promote EC once it is established. Consistent with this, treatment with chloroquine, an autophagy inhibitor, is reported to attenuate EC cell proliferation. Moreover, chemotherapy-induced autophagy triggers chemoresistance in EC cells. As autophagy has a tumor-promoting function, the combination of chemotherapy and autophagy inhibitors such as chloroquine could be a potent therapeutic option for patients with EC. In conclusion, autophagy plays a dual role in the prevention and treatment of EC. Therefore, targeting autophagy to prevent and treat EC requires diametrically opposed strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomohiko Fukuda
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, JR Tokyo General Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
- *Correspondence: Tomohiko Fukuda,
| | - Osamu Wada-Hiraike
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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