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Ali L, Raza AA, Zaheer AB, Alhomrani M, Alamri AS, Alghamdi SA, Almalki AA, Alghamdi AA, Khawaja I, Alhadrami M, Ramzan F, Jamil M, Ali M, Jabeen N. In vitro analysis of PI3K pathway activation genes for exploring novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets in clear cell renal carcinoma. Am J Transl Res 2023; 15:4851-4872. [PMID: 37560222 PMCID: PMC10408522] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The regulation of various cellular functions such as growth, proliferation, metabolism, and angiogenesis, is dependent on the PI3K pathway. Recent evidence has indicated that kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC) can be triggered by the deregulation of this pathway. The objective of this research was to investigate 25 genes associated with activation of the PI3K pathway in KIRC and control samples to identify four hub genes that might serve as novel molecular biomarkers and therapeutic targets for treating KIRC. METHODS Multi-omics in silico and in vitro analysis was employed to find hub genes related to the PI3K pathway that may be biomarkers and therapeutic targets for KIRC. RESULTS Using STRING software, a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of 25 PI3K pathway-related genes was developed. Based on the degree scoring method, the top four hub genes were identified using Cytoscape's Cytohubba plug-in. TCGA datasets, KIRC (786-O and A-498), and normal (HK2) cells were used to validate the expression of hub genes. Additionally, further bioinformatic analyses were performed to investigate the mechanisms by which hub genes are involved in the development of KIRC. Out of a total of 25 PI3K pathway-related genes, we developed and validated a diagnostic and prognostic model based on the up-regulation of TP53 (tumor protein 53) and CCND1 (Cyclin D1) and the down-regulation of PTEN (Phosphatase and TENsin homolog deleted on chromosome 10), and GSK3B (Glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta) hub genes. The hub genes included in our model may be a novel therapeutic target for KIRC treatment. Additionally, associations between hub genes and infiltration of immune cells can enhance comprehension of immunotherapy for KIRC. CONCLUSION We have created a new diagnostic and prognostic model for KIRC patients that uses PI3K pathway-related hub genes (TP53, PTEN, CCND1, and GSK3B). Nevertheless, further experimental studies are required to ascertain the efficacy of our model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liaqat Ali
- Department of Urology, Institute of Kidney Diseases, Hayatabad Medical ComplexPeshawar 25000, Pakistan
| | - Abbas Ali Raza
- Surgery Department, Bacha Khan Medical College, MTI Mardan Medical ComplexMardan 23200, Pakistan
| | | | - Majid Alhomrani
- Centre of Biomedical Sciences Research (CBSR), Deanship of Scientific Research, Taif UniversityTaif 21944, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, The Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Taif UniversityTaif 21944, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulhakeem S Alamri
- Centre of Biomedical Sciences Research (CBSR), Deanship of Scientific Research, Taif UniversityTaif 21944, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, The Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Taif UniversityTaif 21944, Saudi Arabia
| | - Saleh A Alghamdi
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Since, Medical Genetics, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taif UniversityTaif 21944, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulraheem Ali Almalki
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taif UniversityTaif 21944, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmad A Alghamdi
- Department of Clinical Laboratories Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taif UniversityP.O. Box 11099, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia
| | - Imran Khawaja
- Department of Medicine, Ayub Teaching HospitalAbbottabad 22010, Pakistan
| | - Mai Alhadrami
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Alqura UniversityMakkah 24373, Saudi Arabia
| | - Faiqah Ramzan
- Department of Animal and Poultry Production, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Gomal UniversityDera Ismail Khan 29050, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Jamil
- PARC Arid Zone Research CenterDera Ismail Khan 29050, Pakistan
| | - Mubarik Ali
- Animal Science Institute, National Agricultural Research CenterIslamabad 54000, Pakistan
| | - Norina Jabeen
- Department of Rural Sociology, University of AgricultureFaisalabad 38040, Pakistan
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Baghdadi MA, Ahmad J, Idris S, Alhadrami M, Almaimani R, Aslam M, Refaat B. Abstract 5803: Exploring the anti-cancer activities of 5-Fluorouracil, metformin, and calcitriol single, dual, and triple therapies against colon cancer cells in vitro: The role of PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway. Cancer Res 2022. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2022-5803] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Background: Chemoresistance to 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is a common clinical problem during the treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC) and its pathogenesis includes hyperactivation of the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) oncogenic pathway that induces aerobic glycolysis. Although both calcitriol and metformin ameliorated the tumoricidal actions of 5-FU, there is no report on the potential anti-cancer effects of 5-FU, calcitriol, and metformin triple therapy.
Objectives: This study aimed to measure the chemotherapeutic effects of 5-FU, calcitriol, and/or metformin single, dual, and triple treatments against CRC in vitro.
Materials and methods: The HT29, SW480 and SW620 colon cancer cell lines were treated for 12 hours with 5-FU (50 µM), calcitriol (25 µM), and/or metformin (39.8 mM) single/dual/triple protocols followed by measuring cell cycle and cell apoptosis by flow cytometer. We also measured the gene and protein expression of cell cycle and apoptosis regulatory molecules alongside the PI3K/Akt/PTEN/mTOR network.
Results: All therapies induced HT29 arrest at the S-phase of cell cycle, with calcitriol/metformin and 5-FU/calcitriol/metformin regimens most prominent (1.7-fold for both) relative to untreated cells. Alternatively, all therapies equally induced G1-phase arrest in the SW480 cells (~1.5-fold), whereas metformin-alone showed maximal numbers of SW620 cells in the G0/G1-phase (1.6-fold). 5-FU/metformin co-therapy also showed the highest numbers of apoptotic HT29 (11%) and SW480 (13%) cells, whilst 5-FU/calcitriol/metformin displayed the lowest percentage (81%) of viable SW620 cells. Triple therapy also revealed maximal downregulations of markers of cell cycle induction (CCND1/CCND3), cell survival (BCL2) and the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway, which coincided with highest expression of PTEN, cell cycle inhibitors (p21/p27), and pro-apoptotic (BAX/Cytochrome-C/Caspase-3) molecules in all three cell lines.
Conclusions: The anti-cancer effects of metformin monotherapy were greater than calcitriol, whilst the 5-FU/metformin approach was better relative to the other dual therapies. However, the triple therapy protocol revealed the best tumoricidal actions related to cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in all cell lines, possibly by enhanced regulation of the PI3K/PTEN/Akt/mTOR pathway.
Citation Format: Mohammed A. Baghdadi, Jawwad Ahmad, Shakir Idris, Mai Alhadrami, Riyad Almaimani, Mohammed Aslam, Bassem Refaat. Exploring the anti-cancer activities of 5-Fluorouracil, metformin, and calcitriol single, dual, and triple therapies against colon cancer cells in vitro: The role of PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2022; 2022 Apr 8-13. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(12_Suppl):Abstract nr 5803.
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Almaimani RA, Aslam A, Ahmad J, El-Readi MZ, El-Boshy ME, Abdelghany AH, Idris S, Alhadrami M, Althubiti M, Almasmoum HA, Ghaith MM, Elzubeir ME, Eid SY, Refaat B. In Vivo and In Vitro Enhanced Tumoricidal Effects of Metformin, Active Vitamin D3, and 5-Fluorouracil Triple Therapy against Colon Cancer by Modulating the PI3K/Akt/PTEN/mTOR Network. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14061538. [PMID: 35326689 PMCID: PMC8946120 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14061538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [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: 02/25/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Failure of chemotherapy is common during the treatment of colon cancer, and there is a compelling need to develop alternative therapeutic approaches against this common malignancy. Metformin, which is an oral hypoglycaemic agent used for treating diabetes mellitus, and vitamin D have shown promising anticancer activities, and both agents boosted the actions of chemotherapy against colon cancer. This study, therefore, measured the potential beneficial effects of adding metformin and/or active vitamin D to the main cytotoxic drug used for treating colon cancer. The results demonstrate that metformin had superior anticancer effects relative to active vitamin D and ameliorated the effects of chemotherapy in animals and in cells. To the best of our knowledge, this study is also the first to report that triple treatment with the drugs of interest showed the best inhibition of cancer progression, which could provide a better therapeutic strategy against colon cancer. Abstract Chemoresistance to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) is common during colorectal cancer (CRC) treatment. This study measured the chemotherapeutic effects of 5-FU, active vitamin D3 (VD3), and/or metformin single/dual/triple regimens as complementary/alternative therapies. Ninety male mice were divided into: negative and positive (PC) controls, and 5-FU, VD3, Met, 5-FU/VD3, 5-FU/Met, VD3/Met, and 5-FU/VD3/Met groups. Treatments lasted four weeks following CRC induction by azoxymethane. Similar regimens were also applied in the SW480 and SW620 CRC cell lines. The PC mice had abundant tumours, markedly elevated proliferation markers (survivin/CCND1) and PI3K/Akt/mTOR, and reduced p21/PTEN/cytochrome C/caspase-3 and apoptosis. All therapies reduced tumour numbers, with 5-FU/VD3/Met being the most efficacious regimen. All protocols decreased cell proliferation markers, inhibited PI3K/Akt/mTOR molecules, and increased proapoptotic molecules with an apoptosis index, and 5-FU/VD3/Met revealed the strongest effects. In vitro, all therapies equally induced G1 phase arrest in SW480 cells, whereas metformin-alone showed maximal SW620 cell numbers in the G0/G1 phase. 5-FU/Met co-therapy also showed the highest apoptotic SW480 cell numbers (13%), whilst 5-FU/VD3/Met disclosed the lowest viable SW620 cell percentages (81%). Moreover, 5-FU/VD3/Met revealed maximal inhibitions of cell cycle inducers (CCND1/CCND3), cell survival (BCL2), and the PI3K/Akt/mTOR molecules alongside the highest expression of cell cycle inhibitors (p21/p27), proapoptotic markers (BAX/cytochrome C/caspase-3), and PTEN in both cell lines. In conclusion, metformin monotherapy was superior to VD3, whereas the 5-FU/Met protocol showed better anticancer effects relative to the other dual therapies. However, the 5-FU/VD3/Met approach displayed the best in vivo and in vitro tumoricidal effects related to cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, justifiably by enhanced modulations of the PI3K/PTEN/Akt/mTOR pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riyad Adnan Almaimani
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Al Abdeyah, Makkah 24381, Saudi Arabia; (R.A.A.); (M.Z.E.-R.); (M.A.); (M.E.E.); (S.Y.E.)
| | - Akhmed Aslam
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Al Abdeyah, P.O. Box 7607, Makkah 24381, Saudi Arabia; (A.A.); (J.A.); (M.E.E.-B.); (A.H.A.); (S.I.); (H.A.A.); (M.M.G.)
| | - Jawwad Ahmad
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Al Abdeyah, P.O. Box 7607, Makkah 24381, Saudi Arabia; (A.A.); (J.A.); (M.E.E.-B.); (A.H.A.); (S.I.); (H.A.A.); (M.M.G.)
| | - Mahmoud Zaki El-Readi
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Al Abdeyah, Makkah 24381, Saudi Arabia; (R.A.A.); (M.Z.E.-R.); (M.A.); (M.E.E.); (S.Y.E.)
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Assuit 71524, Egypt
| | - Mohamed E. El-Boshy
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Al Abdeyah, P.O. Box 7607, Makkah 24381, Saudi Arabia; (A.A.); (J.A.); (M.E.E.-B.); (A.H.A.); (S.I.); (H.A.A.); (M.M.G.)
- Clinical Pathology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt
| | - Abdelghany H. Abdelghany
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Al Abdeyah, P.O. Box 7607, Makkah 24381, Saudi Arabia; (A.A.); (J.A.); (M.E.E.-B.); (A.H.A.); (S.I.); (H.A.A.); (M.M.G.)
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21544, Egypt
| | - Shakir Idris
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Al Abdeyah, P.O. Box 7607, Makkah 24381, Saudi Arabia; (A.A.); (J.A.); (M.E.E.-B.); (A.H.A.); (S.I.); (H.A.A.); (M.M.G.)
| | - Mai Alhadrami
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Al Abdeyah, Makkah 24381, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Mohammad Althubiti
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Al Abdeyah, Makkah 24381, Saudi Arabia; (R.A.A.); (M.Z.E.-R.); (M.A.); (M.E.E.); (S.Y.E.)
| | - Hussain A. Almasmoum
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Al Abdeyah, P.O. Box 7607, Makkah 24381, Saudi Arabia; (A.A.); (J.A.); (M.E.E.-B.); (A.H.A.); (S.I.); (H.A.A.); (M.M.G.)
| | - Mazen M. Ghaith
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Al Abdeyah, P.O. Box 7607, Makkah 24381, Saudi Arabia; (A.A.); (J.A.); (M.E.E.-B.); (A.H.A.); (S.I.); (H.A.A.); (M.M.G.)
| | - Mohamed E. Elzubeir
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Al Abdeyah, Makkah 24381, Saudi Arabia; (R.A.A.); (M.Z.E.-R.); (M.A.); (M.E.E.); (S.Y.E.)
| | - Safaa Yehia Eid
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Al Abdeyah, Makkah 24381, Saudi Arabia; (R.A.A.); (M.Z.E.-R.); (M.A.); (M.E.E.); (S.Y.E.)
| | - Bassem Refaat
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Al Abdeyah, P.O. Box 7607, Makkah 24381, Saudi Arabia; (A.A.); (J.A.); (M.E.E.-B.); (A.H.A.); (S.I.); (H.A.A.); (M.M.G.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +966-541162707; Fax: +966-12-5270000 (ext. 4242)
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Idris S, Refaat B, Almaimani RA, Ahmed HG, Ahmad J, Alhadrami M, El-Readi MZ, Elzubier ME, Alaufi HAA, Al-Amin B, Alghamdi AA, Bahwerth F, Minshawi F, Kabrah SM, Aslam A. Enhanced in vitro tumoricidal effects of 5-Fluorouracil, thymoquinone, and active vitamin D 3 triple therapy against colon cancer cells by attenuating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. Life Sci 2022; 296:120442. [PMID: 35245520 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2022.120442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [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: 12/16/2021] [Revised: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
AIMS This study measured the effects of 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU), calcitriol (VD3), and/or thymoquinone (TQ) single/dual/triple therapies on cell cycle progression, apoptosis, inhibition of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, and oxidative stress against colorectal cancer (CRC). MAIN METHODS The HT29, SW480 and SW620 cell lines were treated with 5-FU (50 μM), VD3 (25 μM), and TQ (75 μM), alone or combined for 12 h, prior to cell cycle/apoptosis analyses. KEY FINDINGS TQ monotherapy had greater anticancer effects to active VD3 or 5-FU, revealing higher expression of p21/p27/PTEN/BAX/Cyto-C/Casp-3 and increased levels of total glutathione, with inhibitions in CCND1/CCND3/BCL-2 and PI3K/AKT/mTOR molecules, alongside higher rates of apoptosis in HT29, SW480 and SW620 cells (P < 0.005 for all markers). Additionally, all combination protocols revealed enhanced modulations of the PI3K/PTEN/Akt/mTOR pathway, higher expression of p21/p27/PTEN/BAX/Cyto-C/Casp-3, and better anti-oxidant effects, than the monotherapies. Although TQ/5-FU and TQ/VD3 co-therapies were better relative to the VD3/5-FU regimen, the best tumoricidal effects were observed with triple therapy in the HT29 and SW480 cell lines, possibly by boosted attenuations of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR oncogenic pathway. In contrast, TQ single treatment was more effective than the triple therapy regimen in metastatic SW620 cells, suggesting that this protocol would be more useful therapeutically in late-stage CRC. SIGNIFICANCE In conclusion, this study is the first to demonstrated enhanced anti-tumorigenic effects for VD3, TQ, and 5-FU triple therapy against CRC cells and could represent the best strategy for treating early stages of malignancy, whereas TQ monotherapy could be a better approach for treating metastatic forms of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shakir Idris
- Department of Histopathology and Cytology, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Sciences, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan; Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Al Abdeyah, PO Box 7607, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Bassem Refaat
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Al Abdeyah, PO Box 7607, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Riyad A Almaimani
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Al Abdeyah, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hussain G Ahmed
- Department of Histopathology and Cytology, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Sciences, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Jawwad Ahmad
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Al Abdeyah, PO Box 7607, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mai Alhadrami
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Al Abdeyah, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mahmoud Zaki El-Readi
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Al Abdeyah, Makkah, Saudi Arabia; Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Assuit, Egypt
| | - Mohamed E Elzubier
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Al Abdeyah, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Haneen A A Alaufi
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Al Abdeyah, PO Box 7607, Makkah, Saudi Arabia; Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Department of Anatomic Medicine, Prince Mohammed Bin Abdul Aziz Hospital, Madinah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Badriah Al-Amin
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Al Abdeyah, PO Box 7607, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmad A Alghamdi
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia
| | - Fayez Bahwerth
- Laboratory and Blood Bank Department, King Faisal Hospital, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Faisal Minshawi
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Al Abdeyah, PO Box 7607, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Saeed M Kabrah
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Al Abdeyah, PO Box 7607, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Akhmed Aslam
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Al Abdeyah, PO Box 7607, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
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Refaat B, Zekri J, Aslam A, Ahmad J, Baghdadi MA, Meliti A, Idris S, Sultan S, Alardati H, Saimeh HA, Alsaegh A, Alhadrami M, Hamid T, Naeem ME, Elsamany SA. Profiling Activins and Follistatin in Colorectal Cancer According to Clinical Stage, Tumour Sidedness and Smad4 Status. Pathol Oncol Res 2021; 27:1610032. [PMID: 34867090 PMCID: PMC8634429 DOI: 10.3389/pore.2021.1610032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
This study explored the roles of activins and follistatin in colorectal cancers. Paired malignant and normal colonic tissues were collected from archived paraffin-embedded (n = 90 patients) alongside fresh (n = 40 patients) specimen cohorts. Activin β-subunits, follistatin and Smad4 mRNAs and proteins were measured by real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry (IHC). Mature activin-A, -B, -AB and follistatin proteins were measured by ELISA. Cancer tissues having ≤ the 20th percentile of the Smad4 IHC score were considered as low (L-S4) group. The Smad4-intact SW480 and Smad4-null HT29 colon cancer cell lines were treated with activins and follistatin, and cell cycle was analysed by flow cytometry. The cell cycle inducing (CCND1/CCND3) and inhibitory (p21/p27) proteins alongside the survival (survivin/BCL2) and pro-apoptosis (Casp-8/Casp-3) markers were measured by immunofluorescence. Thirty-nine patients had right-sided cancers (30%) and showed higher rates of L-S4 tumours (n = 17; 13.1%) alongside worse clinicopathological characteristics relative to left-sided cancers. The βA-subunit and activin-A increased, whilst βB-subunit and activin-AB decreased, in malignant sites and the late-stage cancers revealed the greatest abnormalities. Interestingly, follistatin declined markedly in early-stage malignant tissues, whilst increased significantly in the advanced stages. All activin molecules were comparable between the early stage right- and left-sided tumours, whereas the late-stage right-sided cancers and L-S4 tumours showed more profound deregulations. In vitro, activin-A increased the numbers of the SW480 cells in sub-G1 and G0/G1-phases, whereas reduced the HT29 cell numbers in the sub-G1 phase with simultaneous increases in the G0/G1 and S phases. The p21/p27/Casp-8/Casp-3 proteins escalated, whilst CCND1/CCND3/BCL2/survivin declined in the SW480 cells following activin-A, whereas activin-A only promoted p21 and p27 alongside reduced CCND3 in the HT29 cells. By contrast, activin-AB increased the numbers of SW480 and HT29 cells in Sub-G1 and G0/G1-phases and promoted the anti-cancer and reduced the oncogenic proteins in both cell lines. In conclusion, activins and follistatin displayed stage-dependent dysregulations and were markedly altered during the advanced stages of right-sided and L-S4 cancers. Moreover, the activin-A actions in CRC could be Smad4-dependent, whereas activin-AB may act as a Smad4-independent tumour suppressor protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bassem Refaat
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Jamal Zekri
- Oncology Department, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.,College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Akhmed Aslam
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Jawwad Ahmad
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed A Baghdadi
- Research Centre, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdelrazak Meliti
- Pathology Department, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Shakir Idris
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sufian Sultan
- Department of Surgery, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hosam Alardati
- Pathology Department, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Haitham Akram Saimeh
- Department of Surgery, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Aiman Alsaegh
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mai Alhadrami
- Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Tahira Hamid
- Histopathology Department, King Abdullah Medical City, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed E Naeem
- Histopathology Department, King Abdullah Medical City, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Shereef Ahmed Elsamany
- Medical Oncology Department, Oncology Centre, King Abdullah Medical City, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.,Medical Oncology Department, Oncology Centre, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
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Aslam A, Ahmad J, Baghdadi MA, Idris S, Almaimani R, Alsaegh A, Alhadrami M, Refaat B. Chemopreventive effects of vitamin D 3 and its analogue, paricalcitol, in combination with 5-fluorouracil against colorectal cancer: The role of calcium signalling molecules. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2020; 1867:166040. [PMID: 33338596 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2020.166040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2020] [Revised: 11/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although vitamin D (VD) is chemoprotective and enhances 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) cytotoxicity against colorectal cancer (CRC), little is known about its potential calcium (Ca2+)-mediated anti-tumorigenic actions. Therefore, this study compared between VD and its non-calcaemic analogue, Paricalcitol (Pcal), ± 5-FU in relation to chemoprevention and Ca2+-mediated apoptosis in vivo and in vitro. METHODS Seventy male mice were distributed to: negative controls, positive controls (PC), VD, Pcal, 5-FU, VD + 5-FU and Pcal+5-FU groups. All groups, except negative, received two consecutive azoxymethane (AOM)-injections (10 mg/Kg/week) for CRC induction. VD3 (1000 IU/kg; three times/week) and Pcal (1.25 μg/kg; three times/week) injections started week-16 post-AOM and for 10 weeks. Three successive 5-FU cycles began at week-21 (50 mg/Kg/week). Similar protocols with VD3, Pcal and/or 5-FU were applied in the HT29 colon cancer cells. RESULTS The PC group had abundant malignant tumours, markedly elevated proliferation markers (survivin/CCND1) and declines in cyclin-dependent kinase-inhibitor-1A, pro-apoptotic molecules (p53/BAX/cytochrome_C/caspase-3), tissue Ca2+ concentrations and Ca2+-dependent proteins (CaSR/CAM/CAMKIIA). All monotherapies equally reduced tumour numbers and proliferation markers whilst promoting the anti-tumorigenic molecules. VD and/or 5-FU, but not Pcal monotherapy, enhanced Ca2+ levels and Ca2+-related molecules (CaSR/CAM/CAMKIIA/BAX/cytochrome_C) in vivo and in vitro. However, VD + 5-FU co-therapy showed the lowest tumour numbers, the highest cell numbers in sub-G1 phase of cell cycle, alongside the most effective modulations of oncogenes, tumour suppressors and Ca2+-related molecules at the gene and protein levels in vivo and in vitro. CONCLUSIONS VD3 was superior than Paricalcitol in potentiating 5-FU cytotoxicity, possibly by upregulating several Ca2+-related molecules involved in tumour suppression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akhmed Aslam
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Al Abdeyah, PO Box 7607, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Jawwad Ahmad
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Al Abdeyah, PO Box 7607, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Shakir Idris
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Al Abdeyah, PO Box 7607, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Riyad Almaimani
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Al Abdeyah, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Aiman Alsaegh
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Al Abdeyah, PO Box 7607, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mai Alhadrami
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Al Abdeyah, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Bassem Refaat
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Al Abdeyah, PO Box 7607, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
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